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THE    OLD    SOUTH    1856-1896. 


JAN  20  191 


\% 


SEW 

ORIGIN    AND    ANNALS 


OF 


"THE   OLD   SOUTH" 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

AND    PARISH, 

IN     NEWBURYPORT,     MASS., 
1746— 1896. 


EDITED   BY   HORACE    C.   HOVEY,    D.    D.,    Pastor. 
PUBLISHED     FOR    THE    SOCIETY    BY    A    COMMITTEE. 


BOSTON : 

DAMRELL    &    UPHAM, 

Z\\i    ©lb     Corner    Bookstore, 

2S3  Washington  Street. 

1896. 


Copyright  iSq6, 
by 
HORACE  C.  HOVEY. 
and  tin- 
First  Presbyterian   Church  and  Societ  \ 
of 
Vewburyport,  Mass. 


NEWS    PUBLISHING    COMPANY    PRESS 
NEWBURYPORT,    MASS. 


NEWBURYPORT,    MASS. 


According  to  an  Act  of  the  Legislature.  June  14.  tSij, 
by  which  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  incorporated, 
' '  the  Pastor,  Deacons  and  Elders  may  have  and  use  a  common 
Seal,  and  the  same  may  break,  alter  and  renew  at  pleasure." 
The  right  has  not  been  exercised  until  this  historic  year,  when, 
by  vote  of  the  Session,  the  above  emblematic  device  was 
adopted.  Xov.  11,  iSqb.  The  Triangle  typifies  the  Trinity: 
the  uplifted  hand  has  for  ages  been  the  conventional  sign  of 
the  Covenant :  the  motto,  "  Christo  Duce,"  (Christ  our 
Leader),  zvas  the  watchword  given  by  White  field  for  Revo- 
lutionary soldiers,  and  for  soldiers  of  the  Cross.  The  -'Eagle 
Wing"  :eas  the  name  of  the  Presbyterian  ship  that  set  sail 
for  the  Merrimac  in  it>jj  with  a  colony  of  Calvinistic  pil- 
grims. As  a  whole  the  Seal  signifies  our  loyalty  to  theTrinity, 
to  the  ancient  Covenant,  and  to  Christ  as  the  Captain  of  our 
Salvation,  and  our  faith  that  we  shall  be  upheld  by  the 
promises  of  God.  as  by  the  -wings  of  a  mighty  eagle;  (see 
Isaiah    40:31,  and  Revelation  12:14.) 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Seal  of  the  First  Presbyterian,  "Old  South,"  church. 

The  Old  South  meeting-house,  1856—1896,  frontispiece. 

Page. 
The  Old  South,  prior  to  1S56  .... 

Portrait  of  Rev.  H.  C.  Hovey    ...-••  6 

"     George  Whitefield              .             opposite           .  ^3 

Jonathan  Parsons        .              .                              •  •          27 

"               "      Murray,  Dana  and  Williams          .     "                     .  41 

■     A.  G.  Vermilye             .             .           "             •  -73 

"               "      Proudfit,  Stearns  and  Richardson      "        .              .  83 

'■     Durfee.  Newell.  Wallace,    Sinclair   "             .  •         91 

In  the  Old  South,  April  7  and  8,  1S96,                            "  99 

Old  South  church,  chapel,  and  the  home  of  Garrison"             .  •      163 

Whitefield  Cenotaph,  in  the  Old  South              .  J74 

Choir  of  the  Old  South          .              •              •              •       "               •  .196 


THE    OLD    SOUTH    PRIOR    TO    1856. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  (often 
styled  "  The  Old  South  Church,")  was  begun  January  3rd,  1746, 
and  was  completed  in  its  organization  on  the  7th  of  the  ensuing 
April.  Preliminary  to  celebrating  the  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth 
anniversary  of  that  event,  the  Session  requested  the  co-operation 
of  the  Parish  and  the  Ecclesiastical  Society.  Accordingly  a  meet- 
ing was  held  to  which  all  persons  interested  were  invited,  and 
after  a  free  interchange  of  opinion  the  plan  was  approved  by  a 
unanimous  vote.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Horace  C.  Hovey, 
D.  D.,  and  a  former  pastor,  Rev.  Ashbel  G.  Vermilye,  D.  D., 
were  requested  to  deliver  historical  addresses;  sister  churches  in 
the  vicinity,  with  their  ministers,  were  invited  to  attend  and  take 
part  in  public  services  to  be  held  on  the  7th  and  Sth  of  April, 
1896  ;  a  special  poem  for  the  occasion  was  solicited  from  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Kimball  Haskell ;  greetings  were  sought  from  former 
pastors,  the  survivors  of  deceased  pastors,  and  from  ministers 
and  others  who  had  at  any  time  been  connected  with  this  congre- 
gation. 

A  General  Committee  of  arrangements  was  chosen,  to  have  all 
matters  in  charge  ;  of  which  John  T.  Brown,  Esquire,  was  made 
the  chairman,  Mr.  Prentiss  H.  Reed,  secretary,  and  Miss  Frances 
A.  Howard,  treasurer.     This  General  Committee  included,  (1.) 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

From  the  Church,  Rev.  Horace  C.  Hovey,  D.  D.,  pastor,  and 
the  Elders  and  Deacons,  namely,  Ebenezer  Rolfe,  James  M. 
Woods,  Edmund  Jaques,  William  Binley,  Charles  M.  Pritchard, 
Oliver  O.  Jones,  Alvah  W.  Leavitt,  Ebenezer  Smith,  John  M. 
Bailey  and  George  H.  Jaques.  (2.)  From  the  Parish,  David 
Foss,  M.  D.,  Charles  T.  Smith,  William  E.  Chase,  John  W. 
Winder  and  Lawrence  B.  dishing.  (3.)  From  the  Society  as 
a  whole,  a  large  representation,  more  than  eighty  individuals  in 
all.  (4.)  All  persons  in  the  Congregation,  over  seventy  years  of 
age,  as  honorary  members,  some  of  whom,  it  should  be  said, 
worked  as  vigorously  as  any  of  the  active  members. 

From  the  General  Committee,  special  committees  were  form- 
ed :  on  Program,  Invitation,  Reception,  Decoration,  Collation, 
Finance,  Printing,  and  an  Advisory  committee  to  act  on  any  new 
questions  that  might  arise.  It  was  intended  to  print  in  full  all 
the  names  of  these  various  committees.  But  they  were  so  nu- 
merous, and  as  the  work  went  on,  so  many  changes  were  made, 
names  being  added,  transferred  or  dropped,  and  so  many  persons, 
not  on  any  committee,  laboring  and  giving  for  the  cause  as  freely 
as  any  others,  that  it  was  found  impracticable  to  carry  out  the 
above  intention.  There  is  room  for  only  those  names  that  nat- 
urally come  into  prominence  in  connection  with  special  features 
of  the  occasion. 

Faithful  work,  and  a  great  deal  of  it,  was  done  by  all  con- 
cerned, and  the  result  was  a  delightful  and  harmonious  celebra- 
tion. A  final  meeting  of  the  General  Committee  heard  reports 
from  the  sub-committees,  passed  votes  of  thanks  to  everybody  to 
whom  thanks  were  due,  and  then  appointed  a  special  committee 
whose  duty  it  should  be  to  collate,  arrange  and  publish  in  a  me- 
morial volume  the  historical  discourses  and  addresses,   greetings 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

from  sister  churches,  such  poetical  and  epistolary  contributions 
as  had  been  especially  asked  for,  and  at  their  discretion,  in  full, 
by  abstract,  or  by  title,  such  other  material  as  might  be  available 
for  the  purpose.  They  might  also  insert  such  cuts  as  could  be 
provided  within  their  resources  at  command.  Said  committee 
was  given  power  to  act. 

In  issuing  the  completed  volume  thus  prepared,  it  was  deemed 
best  to  print  it  in  two  parts ;  the  first  containing  the  two  main 
historical  discourses,  and  the  second  presenting  the  other  Anni- 
versary Proceedings  in  detail  from  first  to  last. 

A  word  is  here  in  place  as  to  the  importance  of  collecting  and 
preserving  the  scattered  materials  of  local  history.  Our  Pastoral 
Library  already  contains  many  valuable  historical  books,  pam- 
phlets, magazines,  newspapers  and  manuscripts.  An  occasion 
like  this  brings  to  light  the  utility  of  such  a  collection,  and  sug- 
gests the  eminent  propriety  of  making  said  library  the  reposi- 
tory of  documents  that  might  otherwise  be  lost  or  destroyed.  To 
each  Church  the  Master  has  committed  a  great  trust,  and  we 
should  prize  the  religious,  historical  and  literary  treasures,  which, 
if  rightly  interpreted,  are  God's  message  to  us  from  a  wonderful 
Past  to  make  us  wise  for  a  bright  Future. 


John  W.  Winder,        i  Committee 

Prentiss  H.   Reed, 
John  T.   Brown, 


on 
Publication. 


1  893. 


"  The    Glory    of  the    Fathers." 


HISTORICAL    SURVEY 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


BY    THE    PASTOR, 


REV.  HORACE  CARTER  HOVEY,  D.  D. 


Pro  verbs  jy:6.      "The glory  of  children 
are  tJieir  fa /Iters.' 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  HORACE  C.  HOVEY,  D.  D. 


No  place  in  America  excels  Essex  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  quaint,  romantic  and  instructive  history, 
civil,    military,    and    ecclesiastical.      We    are    today 
more    particularly   interested    in   that  portion  of  the 
county  known   as  Newburyport — said  to  be  the  only 
town  of  that  name  on  earth.     Our  city  now  has  about 
15,000  inhabitants;  but  when  the  church  was  founded 
whose    anniversary    we    celebrate,   this   was   simply 
what  its  name  indicates,  the  port  of  Newbury,  the  "old 
town,"  to  which  also  belonged  what  is  now  the  town 
of  West  Newbury.     The  local  geography  is  further 
complicated  by  the  fact  that  the  lower  portion  of  New- 
buryport has  been  always  styled  Joppa,  and  the  upper 
portion  Belleville,  while  the  central  portion  was  long 
known   as    Riverside.      The  terms  "  up  along  "  and 
"  down  along  "  have  peculiar  fitness  and  have  been  in 
use  here  for  many  generations.     The  First  Presbyte- 
rian,  or   as    it  is  familiarly  called,  "  the   Old   South 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Church,"  occupies  a  central  position  with  regard  to 
this  region  about  the  estuary  of  the  Merrimac. 

Our  fathers  held  as  firmly  to  the  Abrahamic  cov- 
enant as  did  Abraham  himself.  They  had  large  fami- 
lies and  had  all  their  children  baptized,  even  extend- 
ing that  privilege  formerly  to  what  was  styled  kt  the 
half-way  covenant."  It  is  estimated  that  there  have 
been  about  6,200  children  baptized  in  this  one  parish, 
whence  many  of  them  have  gone  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  carrying  the  memory  of  that  unwritten  form- 
ula for  family  prayer  which  always  included  a  bless- 
ing invoked  on  "  the  children  and  children's  children, 
and  on  their  children,  to  the  latest  generation  of  time." 

God  has  signally  blessed  "these  children  of  the 
Covenant;"  and  they  in  turn,  wherever  their  lot  may 
have  been  cast,  have  held  to  Solomon's  maxim,  that 
"  the  glory  of  children  are  their  fathers.''''  Wise 
men  do  not  ignore  the  deeds  of  former  generations. 
Accordingly  much  has  already  been  written  about 
this  region.  Winthrop,  Mather,  Hutchinson  and 
Bancroft  have  searched  its  early  records.  Whittier, 
Longfellow,  George  Lunt,  Mrs.  Spofford,  and  other 
poets,  have  embalmed  its  memories  in  verse.  Hon. 
Caleb  Cushing,  Mr.  Joshua  Coffin,  Mrs.  E.  Vale 
Smith,  and  others,  have  published  local  histories  of  a 
general  nature,  while  the  opulent  mine  of  ecclesiasti- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

cal  research  has  been  worked  by  Williams,  Steams, 
Vermilye,  Wallace,  Spalding  and  Fiske.  We  are 
also  indebted  to  Dr.  Withington,  Mr.  Moody  Cook, 
Mr.  R.  N.  Toppan,  Miss  Emery,  and  various  mem- 
bers of  the  local  Historical  Society,  for  interesting 
reminiscences  and  sketches. 

Yet  history  is  always  tinged  by  the  medium  through 
which  it  is  seen,  and  each  historian  approaches  his 
subject  from  his  own  starting  point.  The  Apostle 
Paul,  a  native  of  Tarsus  and  a  free-born  Roman, 
truthfully  told  the  Jews  to  whom  he  wrote,  that  he 
was  "of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  an  Hebrew  of  the 
Hebrews."  And  so  may  the  present  speaker,  though 
a  native  of  Indiana  and  proud  of  being  a  Hoosier, 
remind  his  Yankee  audience  to-day  that  he  is  of  un- 
mixed New  England  ancestry;  coming,  on  the  pa- 
ternal side,  from  one  of  the  founders  of  Ipswich, 
Daniel  Hovey,  who  built  the  first  wharf  in  all  this 
region;  and  on  the  maternal  side  from  Thomas  Carter, 
one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Salisbury.  My  father, 
Professor  Edmund  Otis  Hovey,  D.  D.,  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Newburyport,  in  a  meeting  held 
at  Bradford,  Sept.  26th,  1831,  at  which  time  six  or 
more  young  men  were  set  apart  for  missionary  work 
at  the  West.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Wabash 
College,  and  among  his   papers   I   find  a  long  list  of 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

generous  contributors  to  that  institution  from  New- 
buryport.  He  was  also  on  intimate  terms  with  Drs. 
Dana,  Williams  and  Stearns.  These  personal  facts 
may  explain,  in  part,  my  peculiar  zeal  in  delving  amid 
the  archives,  legends,  and  other  materials  that  have 
been  piled  up  during  the  century  and  a  half  of  your 
ecclesiastical  life. 

We  occupy  an  eminence,  on  this  joyous  anniver- 
sary, of  whose  privileges,  distinctions  and  responsi- 
bilities the  fathers  in  whom  we  justly  glory  had  only 
a  dim  and  cloudy  vision.  They  were  like  the  pio- 
neers over  the  plains  by  the  famous  Butterfield  trail, 
who  had  already  made  a  long  journey  before  catch- 
ing their  first  view  of  the  natural  signal  towers  that 
guard  the  western  El  Dorado.  There  stood  Pike's 
Peak,  like  a  fleecy  cloud  on  the  horizon;  and  although 
in  full  sight,  a  march  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
must  be  made  before  its  snowy  summit  was  gained. 
And  so  with  the  fathers  in  their  march  down  the 
pathway  of  time.  They  had  come  to  the  founding 
of  this  church  by  a  long  pilgrimage,  and  stood  there 
like  exiles  disowned  and  assailed;  and  none  but  pro- 
phetic souls  could  have  foreseen  this  day,  when  ours 
is  but  one  of  a  myriad  churches  of  its  kind,  and  when 
the  original   colonics   have   grown  into  a  broad   Re- 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

public,    whose    magnificent    domain    stretches    from 
ocean  to  ocean,  and  expands  from  zone  to  zone. 

PREVIOUS    COLONIAL    CONDITIONS. 

In  order  to  grasp  the  history  of  our  own  venerable 
church,  we  must  begin  by  considering  its  antecedents 
and  its  environment.  In  the  days  of  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers,  nearly  the  entire  Protestant  world  was  Pres- 
byterian, in  the  sense  that  the  reformers  had  revolted 
from  the  hierarchy  of  Rome,  and  had  gone  back  to 
the  primitive  idea  that  the  Church  of  Christ  should 
be  governed  by  representatives  of  its  own  choosing. 
That  idea  was  dominant  among  the  Waldenses  and 
Huguenots,  and  it  made  them  what  they  were. 
Luther  caught  and  spread  that  same  idea  throughout 
Germany,  whence  it  went  to  Denmark,  Sweden  and 
Norway.  John  Calvin,  a  profound  student  of  the 
Word  of  God,  infused  that  idea  of  a  representative 
church  government  into  the  Republic  of  Geneva; 
while  John  a  Lasco  developed  it  more  fully  in  Hol- 
land. Thus,  according  to  the  historian  Bancroft, 
was  "established  a  party,  of  which  Englishmen  be- 
came members,  and  New  England  the  asylum." 
And,  let  cavillers  say  what  they  will,  fully  four-fifths 
of  all  Protestants  now  living  cling  to  the  system 
bravely  contended  for  by  those  men. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

With  those  continental  names,  however,  must  be 
associated  that  of  John  Knox,  the  greatest  man  of 
Scotland,  who,  after  being  educated  for  the  Roman 
Catholic  priesthood,  joined  the  revolt  against  the  Pa- 
pacy, was  exiled  to  foreign  lands,  and  returned  to  de- 
liver his  native  land  from  spiritual  despotism.  He 
began  by  gathering  a  covenanted  body  styled  "The 
Lords  of  the  Congregation,"  into  whose  hands, 
in  1560,  the  whole  government  was  placed  by  the 
treaty  of  Edinburgh.  In  the  same  year  six  ministers 
and  thirty-four  laymen  formed  the  first  modern  "Gen- 
eral Assembly,"  that  has  since  given  shape  to  all  the 
many  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  order,  numbering 
nearly  as  many  adherents  as  then  spoke  the  English 
tongue.  Their  "Confession  of  Faith  and  Book  of 
Discipline"  was  an  attempt  to  reconstruct  society. 
The  rights  of  individuals  were  guarded  so  "that  every 
man  may  gyf  his  vote  freelie"  for  minister  and  elders; 
the  former  being  elected  for  life  and  the  latter  an- 
nually. Knox,  Melville,  and  their  party,  meant  to 
make  Presbyterianism  the  established  religion  of  all 
the  British  Isles.  They  were  aggressive;  but  per- 
haps rough  measures  were  needed  by  the  rough  times. 
Romanists,  Episcopalians  and  Puritans  each  sought 
control  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others.  The  term 
"Puritan"  was  applied  in  ridicule  to  all  who  desired 

1  2 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

to  purify  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  who  were  agreed, 
however  they  differed  as  to  doctrine  and  polity,  in 
their  efforts  to  gain  freedom  of  conscience.  The 
Puritans  asked  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  pledged  King 
James  to  make  the  Church  of  England  Presbyterian. 
Through  the  Long  Parliament,  in  1643,  they  bound 
the  nation  by  the  "Solemn  League  and  Covenant," 
and  summoned  the  Westminster  Assembly  to  estab- 
lish "one  form  of  church  government,  one  confession  of 
faith,  one  catechism,  and  one  director}-  of  the  worship 
of  God.'1  The  result,  as  stated  in  Neal's  History  of 
the  Puritans,  (Vol.  IV.,  p.  269,)  was  that  "the  Pres- 
byterians came  in  possession  of  the  whole  power 
of  England;  the  council  of  state,  the  chief  officers 
of  the  army  and  navy,  and  the  governors  of  the  chief 
forts  and  garrisons  were  theirs;  their  clergy  were  in 
possession  of  both  universities;  and  the  whole  govern- 
ment was  with  the  Presbyterians."'  But  he  adds  that 
they  "were  shy  of  the  Independents;"  and  their  sys- 
tem unexpectedly  found  an  implacable  foe  in  Oliver 
Cromwell.  We  need  not  follow  the  long-  strife 
through  the  Protectorate  and  the  Restoration  until 
the  Act  of  Security  was  finally  passed  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Anne. 

Butnowletus  lookat  Ireland,  that  busy  hive  whence 
so  many  swarms  of  emigrants  have  come  to  America. 

'3 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

The  estates  of  Tyrone  and  Tyrconnel  were  forfeited 
to  the  crown  during  the  reign  of  James  the  First, 
including  with  other  lands  what  is  known  as  the  Prov- 
ince of  Ulster,  which  the  King'  farmed  out  to  a  set  of 
emigrants  from  Scotland.  It  was  here,  at  a  later  day, 
that  the  siege  of  Londonderry,  and  the  battle  of  the 
Boyne  gained  so  conspicuous  a  place  in  the  annals  of 
freedom.  But  previous  to  that  memorable  siege  and 
battle, 

THE    SCOTCH-IRISH    HAD    HEARD    OF    AMERICA, 

and  obtained  permission  to  plant  a  commonwealth  to 
suit  themselves  in  the  New  World.  Accordingly,  in 
1637,  only  two  years  after  the  founding  of  Newbury, 
they  chartered  a  ship  named  "The  Eagle  Wing," 
and  sailed  from  Carrickfergus,  near  Belfast,  directly 
for  the  Merrimac,  with  Rev.  Robert  Blair  and  Rev. 
John  Livingstone  on  board,  ready  to  establish  on 
these  very  shores  a  full-rigged  system  of  session,  pres- 
bytery and  synod.  The  record  is  that  "the  sea 
wrought  and  was  tempestuous,  and  the  storms  of 
heaven  compelled  them  to  return." 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  Presbyterianism  had  a 
stormy  infancy  in  these  colonies.  Seventy  members 
of  the  Westminster  Assembly  formed  a  plan  for  plant- 
ing settlements  in  America;  but  they  were  foiled  by 

1  4 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

civil    war.      The    story   of  the    Pilochie   pilgrims   is 
touching.     They  were  gathered  by  Mr.  George  Scott, 
at  his  own  expense,  and  were  double  the   number  of 
those  who  came  in  the   Mayflower.     They  were  of 
high    standing   and    social    worth;  all  Presbyterians, 
with  ministers,  elders  and  deacons;   with  a  caro-0  of 
Bibles,  psalm-books  and  copies  of  The  Confession  of 
Faith.     They  set  sail  for  America,  but  were  overtaken 
by  disaster,  and  found  their  last  resting-place   in  the 
ocean's  depths.     The  colony  brought  over  in  1630,  by 
Rev.  Richard  Denton,  was  an  organized  body  of  En- 
glish Presbyterians,  from   Yorkshire.     That  was  ten 
years  after  the  landing  at  Plymouth.      Denton's  col- 
ony settled  first  at  Watertown,  Mass.;  and  then  at 
Weathersfield ;  and  Stamford,  Conn.     In  each  of  those 
places  the  local  opposition  was  too  strong  for  them. 
But  they  held  together,  and  finally,  in  1644,  founded 
a    successful     colony    at    Hempstead,    Long  Island, 
that  still  flourishes  as  the  oldest  Presbyterian  Church 
in  America:   in  which  capacity  they  send  us  a  greet- 
ing, today,  being  just  102  years  older  than  our  church, 
having  celebrated  their  250th  anniversary  two  years 
ago. 

Rev.  Francis  McKemie  has  been  styled  the  father 
of  American  Presbyterianism.  He  brought  a  multi- 
tude over,  beginning  in    1682    who   formed   prosper- 

*5 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

ous  churches  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Pennsylva- 
nia, that  were  afterwards  grouped  into  the  "  mother 
Presbytery  "  of  Philadelphia. 

A  notable  fleet  of  five  ships  landed  750  passengers 
in  Boston,  in  17 18,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  James 
MacGregor.  A  few  of  them  tarried  in  Boston,  join- 
ing with  other  Presbyterians  who  had  been  sent  over 
by  Cromwell  and  Charles  II.,  to  be  sold  as  slaves  till 
they  had  worked  out  the  cost  of  their  transportation. 
These  formed  the  old  Federal  Street  Church,  which 
afterwards  became  Congregational,  and  finally,  under 
Dr.  Channing,  Unitarian,  and  the  precursor  of  what  is 
now  the  Arlington  Street  Church.  About  200  others 
attempted  to  settle  at  Worcester;  where  they  also  in- 
troduced "the  Irish  Potato" — for  which  they  de- 
serve a  national  monument.  But  they  had  such  in- 
hospitable treatment  there,  and  at  Andover,  Haver- 
hill, and  elsewhere,  as  actually  drove  them  out  of  the 
region.*  They  joined  their  comrades  who  had  fol- 
lowed the  Rev.  James  MacGregor  to  New  Hampshire, 
where,  in  memory  of  the  famous  citadel  of  Ulster, 
they  founded  the  town  of  Londonderry.  This 
was  a  highly  successful  undertaking.     Their  church 


*It  is  stated  in  Lincoln's  History  of  Worcester,  that  the  Scotch-Irish  built  a  church  in  that 
city  in  171S;  but  the  people  "gathered  by  night,  hewed  down  and  demolished  the  struct- 
ure," and  "persons  of  consideration  and  respectability  aided  in  the  riotous  work." 

l6 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

grew  to  number  700  members,  and  ten  distinct  settle- 
ments were  made  by  them;  each  of  which  became  a 
town  of  importance.  It  is  estimated  that  the  living 
descendents  from  that  one  colony,  rejected  by  Massa- 
chusetts   now  exceed  50,000  souls. 

The  Scotch-Irish  of  today  are  a  peculiar  people. 
They  are  strong-bodied,  strong-minded,  and  strong- 
willed;  and  therefore  self-reliant,  industrious,  intelli- 
gent, courageous  to  desperation,  and  faithful  unto 
death.  Their  rugged  energy  is  tempered  by  native 
humor  and  domestic  affection.  They  formed  one 
third  of  the  population  of  Pennsylvania  at  the  time 
of  the  Revolutionary  War;  and  they  gave  direction 
to  the  South-Atlantic  states,  where  their  patriotism 
found  expression  in  the  immortal  burst  of  Patrick 
Henry,  "Give  me  liberty  or  give  me  death. "  The 
Scotch-Irish  of  New  Hampshire,  seventeen  days  be- 
fore the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  made, 
getting  impatient  with  the  delay,  signed  a  compact 
themselves  to  take  up  arms  against  British  usurpation. 
Even  after  that  Declaration  itself  had  been  adopted 
by  Congress,  it  would  not  have  been  signed  but  for 
the  determined  action  of  Rev.  John  Witherspoon,  a 
descendent  of  sturdy  John  Knox.  That  same  Decla- 
ration, as  it  now  exists,  is  in  the  hand-writing  of  a 
Scotch-Irishman,    Charles    Thompson,   secretary   of 

17 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Congress;  it  was  first  printed  by  another  Scotch- 
Irishman,  Captain  Thomas  Dunlap,  (who  also  started 
the  first  daily  newspaper  in  America;)  and  a  third 
Scotch-Irishman,  Captain  John  Nixon,  of  Philadel- 
phia, first  read  it  to  the  people. 

What  especially  interests  us  now  is  the  fact  that 
these  tyranny-hating,  liberty-loving  people,  who  have 
led  the  van  as  stalwart  champions  of  orthodoxy;  who 
have  always  stood  for  the  Bible,  the  Sabbath  and  the 
Church,  against  every  foe ;  are  nearly  all  of  them  Pres- 
byterians, and  form  the  warp  and  woof  of  most  of  the 
churches  now  in  the  Presbytery  of  Boston.* 

But  it  would  be  an  error  to  say  that  the  early  Pres- 
byterians of  New  England  were  all  of  Scotch  or 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry. 

THE    ENGLISH    PURITANS 

were  largely  Presbyterian,  and  we  are  told  in  Mather's 
Magnalia,  that,  of  the  22,000  emigrants  who  came 
over  to  New  England  before  the  year  1640,  and  to 
whom  the  term  "forefathers"  belongs,  no  less  than 
4,000  had  previously  been  Presbyterians  in  England. 
The  first  churches  formed  in  Newbury,  Salem,  Boston, 
and  many  other  places,  elected  Ruling  Elders,  just  as 

*For  more  full  particulars  as  to  the  Scotch-Irish  in  America,  see  the  reports  made  on 
the  subject  by  1'rof.  S.  S.  Green,  before  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  April  24,  1S95. 

iS 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

we  do  now.  The  famous  platforms  of  Cambridge 
and  Saybrook  were  strongly  tinged  by  the  ideas  of 
doctrine  and  polity  that  govern  us  to-day.  In  many 
parishes  the  terms  Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
were  used  indiscriminately.  The  Hartford  Associa- 
tion, in  1799,  affirmed  that  the  churches  of  Connec- 
ticut "were  never  managed  after  the  Congregational 
manner,  but  contained  the  essentials  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church."  And  the  late  Dr.  H.  M.  Dexter,  the 
Nestor  of  Congregationalism,  used  to  style  the  early 
religion  of  Massachusetts,  a  "  Congregationalized 
Presbyterianism."  By  this  he  meant  that  the  fathers 
held  to  the  doctrines  and  rules  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly  for  the  local  church. 

The  fact  was  slowly  grasped  by  our  sires  that 
America  is  not  a  congenial  soil  for  any  hierarchy  or 
aristocracy.  Not  even  the  inspired  Hebrew  theoc- 
racy could  be  transplanted  to  these  shores,  although 
the  costly  experiment  was  faithfully  tried.  Knox's 
plan  of  Presbyterianism  made  the  General  Assembly 
the  fountain  of  power,  whence  it  flowed  graciously 
down  through  the  Synod,  the  Presbytery  and  the 
Session;  and  if  any  drops  finally  trickled  down  to  the 
private  members  of  the  local  church,  they  ought  to 
be  grateful.  I  say  this  advisedly.  And  yet,  even  in 
the  old  "Form  of  Church-Government,  approved  by 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

the  Church  of  Scotland,"  we  find  a  significant  phrase, 
that  was  destined  to  play  an  important  part  in  the 
history  of  New  England,  and  of  our  own  church  in 
particular.  It  was  this:  "The  Scripture  doth  hold 
out  a  -presbytery  in  a  church"  And  that  was  the 
very  ground  taken  by  Thomas  Parker  and  James 
Noyes,  the  first  pastor  and  first  teacher  of  Newbury. 
For  that  principle  they  most  earnestly  contended, 
amid  much  controversy  and  opposition.  Mr.  Noyes 
published,  in  London,  a  large  quarto  volume,  entitled 
"The  Temple  Measured,"  in  which  he  explained  and 
advocated  his  views  of  a  "presbytery  in  a  church." 
Admitting  that  some  of  his  ideas  were  crude,  yet  his 
ground  was  solid  that  "the  church  ought  to  be  a  pat- 
tern of  punctual  order."  He  had  a  glimpse  of  the  true 
American  theory,  which  favors  neither  anarch)7  nor 
aristocracy,  hierachy  nor  theocracy.  The  word  ''pres- 
byter" literally  means  an  elder;  hence  the  "  presby- 
tery within  a  church,"  would  mean  a  body  of  elders 
within  a  church;  and  that  would  simply  be  a  session, 
such  as  we  now  have.  And  if  we  go  further,  and 
hold,  in  the  terms  of  the  Scotch  Form  of  Government, 
that  "many  particular  congregations  may  be  under 
one  presbyterial  government,"  we  retain  the  dis- 
tinctly American  idea  by  making  each  local  church 
a  fountain  of  power,  and   granting  each   member  of 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

each  local  church  his  sacred  rights  as  such.  When 
the  members  of  any  local  church  choose  a  session, 
that  act  makes  it  a  Presbyterian  church;  even  though 
it  stops  there.  It  is  in  order  for  the  sessions  of  neio-h- 
boring  churches  to  form  themselves  voluntarily  into 
a  Presbytery,  and  stop  there  if  they  choose.  Or  the 
Presbyteries  may  join  to  constitute  a  Synod  or  a  Gen- 
eral Assembly.  Only  remember  that,  according  to 
our  theory,  and  which  we  hold  to  agree  with  the 
Word  of  God,  the  power  should  always  work  upward 
from  the  people  to  the  higher  courts,  instead  of  down- 
ward from  them  to  the  people.  Thus,  as  Dr.  Duffield 
has  admirably  said,  "American  Presbyterianism 
differs  as  much  from  British  Presbyterianism,  as 
American  liberty  differs  from  British  liberty." 

The  facts  thus  far  given  help  us  to  comprehend  the 

ORIGIN    OF    THIS    FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 

whose  anniversary  we  celebrate.  A  handful  of  dis- 
senters, on  April  7th,  1746,  reverted,  after  the  lapse 
of  a  century,  to  the  plan  sanctioned  by  the  Scotch 
Form  of  Government,  and  favored  by  Messrs.  Parker 
and  Noyes,  and  formed  "a  presbytery  within  a 
church. "  And  so  strongly  did  the  idea  take  hold  of 
them  that  we  may  assert  to-day  that,  if  the  Presby- 
tery of  Boston,  or  the   Synod   of  New  York,   or  the 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

General  Assembly  of  the  United  States  should  try  to 
force  John  Knox's  plan  upon  this  congregation,  there 
would  be  an  instant  rebellion.  We  honor  the  Scotch 
and  Scotch-Irish,  but  want  it  understood  that  our 
church  has  been  from  the  very  first  the  unique 
product  of  Yankee  Presbyterianism.  But  how  did  it 
come  about? 

The  founders  explained  it  as  a  matter  "  of  both 
choice  and  compulsion."  To  understand  this  we 
must  remember  that,  while  the  Pilgrim  Fathers 
rejected  the  theory  that  the  Church  is  to  be  ruled  by 
the  State,  the)'  went  to  the  opposite  extreme  of  claim- 
ing that  the  State  should  be  evolved  from  the  Church. 
Accordingly  they  divided  up  the  region  into  par- 
ishes, forbade  any  man  building  more  than  half  a 
mile  from  the  meeting  house;  allowed  none  but 
church  members  to  vote;  and  made  all  property  tax- 
able for  the  parish.  Brave  Roger  Willams  protested, 
in  1634,  that"  no  one  should  be  bound  to  worship, 
or  to  maintain  worship,  without  his  own  consent." 
That  seems  to  us  just  and  sensible;  but  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers  deemed  it  treason  and  heresy,  and  banished 
the  bold  Baptist  and  his  comrades.  Those  of  his  way  of 
thinking  who  remained  were  cowed  into  submission. 

The  inevitable  result  of  such  despotism  in  the 
name  of  liberty  was  formality,  hypocrisy  and  torpid- 

2  2 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ity  of  religious  life.  Even  of  the  clergy  only  a 
decent  morality  together  with  respectable  scholarship 
was  required;  and  a  public  profession  of  faith,  on  the 
part  of  church  members  was  dispensed  with.  It  is 
significant  that  at  about  this  time  the  office  of  ruling 
elder  fell  into  disuse.  It  was  an  era  fit  for  witch 
trials  and  scandals.  The  word  went  forth  from  Rev. 
Increase  Mather,  the  President  of  Harvard  College, 
that  conscientious  people  would  soon  "have  to  gather 
churches  out  of  churches."  This  lamentable  declen- 
sion in  piety  continued  till  a  reaction  set  in,  of 
which    the   revival    at   Northampton    was    the    sign. 

THE    COMING    OF    WHITEFIELD. 

Among  those  who  heard  of  it  gladly  was  a  young 
English  evangelist,  who  had  already  made  his  mark 
in  the  world,  although  but  twentv-six  years  of  a«-e. 
He  was  a  preacher  who  could,  at  any  time  and  any 
where,  collect  in  the  open  air,  an  audience  of  many 
thousands,  without  offering  a  single  heretical  novelty. 
He  was  comely,  fair,  slender,  elastic  and  of  medium 
height.  His  eyes  were  dark  blue,  slightly  cast,  and 
his  countenance  was  remarkably  expressive.  His 
voice  was  both  melodious  and  penetrating,  with  great 
compass  and  power;  so  that,  as  testified  by  Ben. 
Franklin,  it  could  reach  twenty-five  thousand  people 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

at  once.  His  gestures  were  incessant,  yet  eminently 
graceful,  and  his  hearers  were  wont  to  say  of  him 
that  "he  preached  like  a  lion."  This  wonderful  ora- 
tor, who  stirred  New  England  as  it  has  never  been 
stirred  by  any  single  voice  before  or  since,  was  the 
Rev.  George  Whitefield.  Let  us  try  to  picture  the 
locality  as  it  appeared  at  the  time  of  his  advent  to 
this  held.  The  town  of  Newbury  then  covered  what 
is  now  Newburyport  and  West  Newbury,  besides 
the  "Old  Town  "  itself.  The  First  Church  of  New- 
bury, formed  in  1635,  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan.  He  was  by  no  means 
in  sympathy  with  the  revival,  even  carrying  a  whip 
with  him,  as  it  is  alleged,  to  scourge  enthusiasts  from 
the  house  of  prayer.  The  Second  and  Fourth 
churches  were  on  loft)*  hills,  two  miles  apart,  in  what 
is  now  West  Newbury;  and  their  pastors  stood  aloof 
from  the  "Great  Awakening."  Queen  Anne's  chapel 
on  the  plains,  and  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  church  were 
under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Plant,  who  regarded 
what  he  termed  "the  new  scheme  of  Methodism" 
with  great  surprise,  although  his  successor,  Bishop 
Bass,  was  one  of  the  pall-bearers  at  Whitefield's  fun- 
eral. None  of  these  churches  opened  their  doors  to 
the  greatest  pulpit  orator  of  any  age,  when  he  arrived 
here    in     ;i     blinding    snow-storm    September    30th, 

24 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

1740.*  An  open  air  meeting  was  impracticable,  and 
the  Third  Church  was  friendly  to  him  who  was  re- 
jected by  all  the  others.  Its  pastor,  Rev.  John  Lowell, 
had  for  his  motto,  " In  necessariis,  unitas /  in  non- 
necessariis,  libertas;  in  omnibus,  charitas"  And  in 
the  spirit  of  that  noble  motto  he  welcomed  Whitefield. 
Was  it  a  mere  coincidence  that  the  pulpit  where  the 
latter  preached  his  first  sermon  here  stood  directly 
over  a  perennial  spring  that  still  bubbles  up  from  the 
eternal  rock  ?  The  immediate  result  of  the  revival 
was  that  one  hundred  and  forty-three  souls  were 
added  to  the  Third  Church  during  the  next  eighteen 
months;  a  more  remote  result  was  the  formation  of 
our  First  Presbyterian  church;  and  the  grand  total 
for  New  England  was  that  thirty  thousand  persons 
were  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Whitefield, 
Edwards,  the  Tennants  and  kindred  spirits. 

The  Third  Church,  in  1741,  had  three  hundred  and 
fifty-five  members  and  was  prosperous.  But  causes 
of  trouble  arose,  in  1742,  due  to  itinerants,  whose  ex- 
traordinary measures,  in  Mr.  Lowell's  absence,  led 
him  to  exclude  them.  Every  man  in  Newbury  stood 
for  or  against  the  "New  schemers, "  "New-lights," 
or  "Joppaites,'1  the  latter  name  given  it  is  said  because 


*N"ot  September  10th  as  stated  by  both  Williams  and  Coffin;  as  Whitefield  did  not  land 
in  New  England  till  the  14th  of  September. 

25 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

they  met  "  at  the  house  of  one  Simon  by  the  sea- 
side;" though  they  also  met  in  'Mr.  John  Brown's 
barn,  in  Mr.  Toppan's  parish." 

Thirty  men  with  their  families  withdrew  from  the 
First  Church,  and  thirty-eight  from  the  Third  Church ; 
and  after  a  while  they  built  a  plain  but  ample  chapel 
that  was  finished  February  15th,  1743,  and  served  as 
our  sanctuary  for  thirteen  years.  It  stood  on  Norfolk 
(now  High)  street,  between  Lime  street  (as  since 
laid  out,)  and  Chandler's  lane,  afterwards  called 
Prison  street,  (because  the  jail  was  on  it,)  then  King 
street,  and  finally  Federal  street.  It  was  in  the 
"Storey  garden,"  though  the  exact  locality  is  not 
known,  nor  is  any  picture  of  the  edifice  in  existence. 

From  the  day  of  Mr.  Lowell  till  now,  when  what 
was  the  Third  Church  of  Christ  has  become  the 
"First  Religious  Society,"  or  the  Unitarian  Church, 
it  has  been  the  custom  to  speak  of  "the  Presbyterian 
schism."  We  protest.  The  term  implies  a  division 
without  a  justifiable  cause  and  is  a  term  of  reproach. 
There  certainly  was  a  separation,  and  there  may  have 
been  blame;  but  not  wholly,  nor  mainly,  with  the 
seceders.  Their  alleged  "irregularity"  found  a  pre- 
cedent in  the  mode  of  withdrawal  by  both  the  Second 
and  Third  churches,  at  the  time  of  their  formation; 
and     their     example     has     been     imitated     by    other 

26 


JONATHAN    PARSONS, 
1746-1776. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

churches  formed  since  then.  Our  fathers  may  have 
erred;  but  they  sought  in  vain  for  two  years  for  a 
fair  hearing-  by  a  mutual  council.  And  even  after 
resorting  to  an  "  ex  parte  council,"  which  decided  in 
their  favor,  they  waited  long  for  some  recognition  of 
what  would  now  be  universally  regarded  as  their 
sacred  rights.  Meanwhile  they  were  ably  ministered 
to  by  a  young  man  from  Byheld,  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Adams,  a  graduate  from  Harvard.  He  served  them 
as  a  "  stated  preacher  "  for  three  years,  and  merits  last- 
ing remembrance  as  having  done  pioneer  work  in 
troublous  times,  paving  the  way  for  the  pastors 
whose  names  now  shine  in  letters  of  gold  on 
your  mural  tablet.  Mr.  Adams  was,  however,  more 
zealous  than  discreet,  and  by  Mr.  Whitehekrs  advice 
the  congregation    sought,    as    their    first    pastor,  the 

REV.   JONATHAN    PARSONS. 

Preparatory,  however,  to  this  important  step,  they 
formed  what  was  termed,  "  A  New  Society  for  the 
Settlement  of  the  Gospel  Ministry,"  and  signed  a 
subscription  list  for  that  purpose,  November  25,  1745. 
The  list  contains  one  hundred  and  two  names,  many 
of  which  have  come  down  to  this  day  by  family  de- 
scent: among  them,  the  familiar  names  of  Titcomb, 
Noyes,    Little,  Johnson,   Moody,   Greenleaf,   Brown, 

27 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Todd,  Coffin,  Cresey,  Plumer,  Poor,  Knight,  Knapp, 
Bayley,  Safford,  Pettingell,  Lunt,  Hale,  Goodwin, 
and  others.  Prominence  should  be  given  here  to 
Mr.  John  Brown,  who  was  chosen  as  church  clerk, 
and  Mr.  Ralph  Cross,  who  has  been  styled  '"  the 
founder  of  this  church."  These  and  other  faithful 
helpers,  male  and  female,  gave  of  their  time  and 
money  to  promote  this  enterprise,  and  without  them 
it  would  not  have  succeeded. 

Nineteen  separatists  from  the  First  Church  signed 
a  mutual  covenant,  January  3rd,  1746,  agreeing  to 
'•  walk  together  as  a  Church  of  Christ,  according  to 
the  rules  and  order  of  the  Gospel.'1  Four  days  later 
they  called  Mr.  Parsons,  who  had  for  some  time  been 
laboring  at  Lyme,  Conn.  They  were  publicly 
warned  against  this  step,  on  the  ground  that  he  had 
been  formerly  lax  in  theology,  and  had  renounced 
the  Savbrook  platform.  But  inquiry  showed  that, 
though  once  lax,  he  was  now  staunch  in  the  faith:  and 
that  his  reason  for  discarding  the  Saybrook  platform 
was  because  it  allowed  civil  interference  with  eccle- 
siastical matters.      Hence  they  went  ahead. 

A  council  for  installation  was  out  of  the  question 
because  the  churches  of  the  vicinity  did  not  recog- 
nize them  in  fellowship.  The  so-called  "Irish  Pres- 
bytery,"  which  had  existed  for  several  years,  was  in 

28 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ruins;  and  they  literally  obeyed  the  instruction  of  the 
Scotch  Form  of  Government,  that  while  "no  single 
congregation  that  can  conveniently  associate,  do  as- 
sume to  itself  all  and  sole  power  in  ordination;"  yet 
"in  extraordinary  cases,  something  extraordinary  may 
be  done,  until  a  settled  order  may  be  had.,,  That 
was  good  Presbyterianism  by  the  only  received 
standard.  Hence,  on  March  19,  1746,  Mr.  Parsons 
stood  before  his  flock,  with  uplifted  hand  and  said: 
"In  the  presence  of  God  and  these  witnesses,  I  take  this 
people  to  be  my  people."  And  then  they  arose,  and 
the  clerk  said  on  their  behalf:  "In  the  presence  of 
God  and  these  witnesses  we  take  this  man  to  be  our 
minister."  It  was  strictly  "by  the  book;"  yet  was 
like  a  Quaker  marriage  for  simplicity  and  solemnity; 
and  the  union  thus  formed  lasted  till  it  was  ended  by 
death. 

Meanwhile,  and  in  a  manner  almost  as  independent, 
three  ministers  and  three  ruling  elders,  being  con- 
vened on  their  own  motion  at  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
April  16th,  1745,  had  decided  to  constitute  them- 
selves as  a  Presbytery,  "to  act  so  far  as  their  circum- 
stances would  permit  them,  etc."  Two  of  these  min- 
isters, namely,  Rev.  John  Moorehead,  of  Boston,  and 
Rev.  David  MacGregor,  of  Londonderry,  had  been 
suspended  from  the  so-called  "Irish   Presbytery,"  on 

29 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

account  of  their  zeal  in  espousing  the  cause  of 
Mr.  Whitefield.  The  third  minister,  Rev.  Robert 
Abercrombie,  of  Pelham,  Mass.,  was  of  the  same 
way  of  thinking-,  having  just  been  ordained  by  a 
council,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Moorehead,  MacGregor, 
Jonathan  Edwards  and  others.  Our  church  was  in 
sympathy  with  this  movement,  and  voted,  April  5th, 
1746,  to  unite  with  it;  and  accordingly,  two  days 
later,  namely,  on  April  7th,  1746,  they  completed 
their  organization  by  electing  six  ruling  elders  to  act 
as  a  Session.  On  the  9th  of  June  the  seceders  from 
the  Third  Church  asked  for  admission  without  creden- 
tials, and  they  were  received  on  the  16th  of  October. 
It  is  not  strange  that  we  hesitated  a  while  before 
joining  the  new  Presbytery  of  Boston,  made  up  as  it 
was  of  the  fragments  of  its  predecessor,  and  consti- 
tuted by  its  own  order.  But  it  was  finally  done,  Oc- 
tober 4th,  1748,  with  certain  "reserved  rights.'''  As 
a  good  deal  has  been  said  about  these  conditions,  we 
may  add  that  they  were  simply  these:  (1.)  That  the 
Presbyteiy  should  satisfy  us  as  to  its  coming  off  from 
the  former  one;*  (2.)  That  they  should  really  wish 
to  receive  this  church;  (3.)  That  "they  make  no 
difficultv  about    our  choosing  our  elders  annually," 


*The   first    Presbytery   of  Londonderry,   though    moribund,   did   not   actually   become 
extinct  by  depletion  till  a  later  date.     Hence  the  propriety  of  this  inquiry. 

30 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

(the  custom  elsewhere  being  to  elect  them  for  life;) 
(4.) That  they  do  not  bind  us  respecting  the  form  of 
administering  and  receiving  the  sacraments;  and  (5.) 
That  they  "accept  the  great  doctrines  of  Grace,  as 
contained  in  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith 
and  Catechisms."  These  conditions  were  made  by  a 
vote  of  this  church,  September  15,  1748;  and  were 
unanimously  agreed  to  by  the  Presbytery. 

It  may  be  added  that,  in  1802,  during  Dr.  Dana's 
ministry,  this  church  unanimously  voted  to  adopt  the 
constitution  and  form  of  government  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  "reserving  only  its  established 
practice  of  electing  its  elders  annually/' 

The  record  reads  that  we  joined  the  Presbytery 
"both  by  choice  and  by  compulsion."  The  latter 
phrase  refers  to  the  fact  that  there  was  no  other  way 
of  escaping  the  double  taxation  then  sanctioned  by 
colonial  law.  The  First  and  Third  parishes  insisted 
that  we  were  a  "misguided  band;11  that  what  we 
called  "conscience,"  was  but  "avarice;"  that  we  had 
no  right  to  exist.  A  parchment  yellow  with  age  is 
extant,  being  an  authentic  copy  of  our  petition  to 
"The  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty"  relating  that 
Presbyterians  were  unjustly  forced,  in  addition  to 
supporting    their     own     minister,    to    pay    "  for    the 


3  ' 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

support  of  ministers  on  whose  ministry  they  cannot 
in  conscience  attend;"  and  that,  upon  refusal  to  pay 
such  unjust  taxes,  "  honest  and  peaceable  men  have 
been  hauled  away  to  prison,  to  their  great  hurt  and 
damage;"  and  praying-  for  "equal  liberty  of  con- 
science in  worshipping  God"  that  had  already  been 
granted  to  others. 

As  it  has  been  doubted  if  this  petition  signed  by 
Jonathan  Greenleaf,  Ralph  Cross  and  others,  was  ever 
sent  to  the  King,  let  me  say  that  I  find  in  a  letter  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  himself  the  statement  that  Mr. 
Partridge  was  their  "agent  before  the  King  in 
Council,'"  in  the  matter  of  showing  this  petition.  In 
this  same  letter,  which  was  written  in  1749  to  Col. 
Elisha  Williams,  then  in  London,  Mr.  Parsons  says 
of  his  flock,  that  they  are  not  "a  wild,  friekish  people," 
but  avoid  "an  apish  sort  of  religion;"  that  thev  are 
honest  and  industrious,  with  some  wealthv  members, 
but  "with  more  poor  widows  than  all  the  other  con- 
gregations in  town  put  together,"  "  left  so  by  the 
death  of  their  husbands  in  the  Cape  Breton  expe- 
dition." Yet  he  complains  that,  for  refusing  to  pay 
taxes  to  ministers  on  whose  ministry  thev  never  at- 
tended, they  were  ""dragged  about  upon  the  ground," 
"dressed  up  in  bear-skins  and  worried,"  were  thrown 
upon  carts,  hauled  through  the  streets,  and  imprisoned 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

with  a  "Lie  there  till  you  have  paid  the  utmost 
farthing."  He  urges  Col.  Williams  to  use  his  in- 
fluence with  His  Majesty  and  to  assure  him  that  he 
has  no  more  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects  than  "those 
who  are  trampled  on  in  the  manner  related." 

These  efforts  brought  only  slight  relief;  and  it  was 
not  till  1773,  or  thirty  years  after  beginning  to  worship 
on  High  street,  that,  by  an  act  of  the  General  Court, 
they  were  put  on  a  footing  with  other  denominations. 
Thus  a  century  from  the  landing  of  the  "Hector"  at 
the    mouth  of  the  Merrimac,  with  a  colony  led  by 
those  pioneer  Presbyterians,  Parker  and  Noyes,  ex- 
pressly "to  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion, " 
was  that  priceless  liberty  secured  for  their  descend- 
ants.    And  even  then  it  took  some  time  to  enforce 
the  right  granted  by  law,  as  appears  from  the  record 
in  our  Parish  book,  in  1786:    "Voted,  to  defend  those 
in  Newbury  who  are  taxed  there  that  belong  to  this 
church."     And  Newbury  did  not  formally  concede 
our  rights  till  1795.     That  was  more  than  fifty  years 
after  our  withdrawal !     Such  persistent  and   oppres- 
sive coercion  can  only  be   explained   on  the  ground 
that,  while  Congregationalists,  Episcopalians,  Baptists 
and  Quakers  had  rights,  Presbyterians  had  none;  and 
indeed  had  no  right  to  be  Presbyterians  at  all ! 


3  3 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

What  wonder  that  "the  low  and  vulgar"  dared  to 
revile  Whitefleld  and  Parsons,  and  pelt  them  with 
stones,  clods  and  other  missies,  as  they  walked  these 
streets,  and  even  as  they  entered  the  doors  of  this 
sanctuary.  It  is  hard  to  realize  these  facts;  and  they 
can  be  accounted  for  only  on  the  theory  that  the  Con- 
gregational fathers,  while  claiming  the  right  to 
worship  God  in  their  own  way,  were  by  no  means 
willing  to  accord  that  right  to  others  who  were  not  of 
their  way  of  thinking.* 

After  all,  the  infant  church  moulded  by  Jonathan 
Parsons  and  George  Whiterield,  thrived  on  persecu- 
tion and  unmixed  orthodoxy.  The  pastorate  of  Mr. 
Parsons  spanned  thirty  years.  He  was  peculiarly 
fitted  for  his  place  and  work.     Eminently  scholarly 


*Certain  dates  may  here  be  given.  Newburyport  was  incorporated  in  1764.  The  First 
Presbyterian  society,  though  formed  in  1745,  and  gaining  recognition  by  legislative  acts 
in  1752  and  1770,  was  not  made  a  distinct  corporation  with  legal  power  to  tax  pews  and 
estates,  till  the  act  passed  by  the  Legislature,  Feb.  22,  1794.  According  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Williams  (Hist.  Account,  page  2S,)  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  incorporated  in 
1815;  adding  in  a  note,  "A  copy  of  the  act  of  incorporation  of  this  Church  may  be  found 
upon  the  record."  The  first  Baptist  church  in  the  Bay  colony  was  formed  in  1664;  the 
first  Episcopal  church  in  16S6;  a  Society  of  Friends  gained  recognition  in  1710;  the  first 
Roman  Catholic  church  in  the  colony  was  formed  in  1789;  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
in  1795.  King's  Chapel,  Boston,  became  Unitarian  in  17S5,  previous  to  which  the  law  re- 
garded it  as  blasphemy  to  deny  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  The  very  first  Presbyterian 
meeting  house  built  in  New  England  was  in  Boston  in  1716,  by  French  Huguenots,  who 
had  for  some  years  been  allowed  to  worship  in  the  school  house  on  School  street.  They 
disbanded  in  174S,  and  contrary  to  agreement  their  house  was  sold  to  the  Roman  Catholics 
in  17S5.  I'eter  Fanueil,  Esq.,  who  built  the  famous  hall  that  bears  his  name,  and  gave  it 
to  the  town,  is  said  to  have  belonged  to  that  Huguenot  congregation. 


3  4 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

and  maintaining  a  correspondence  with  leading  men 
of  this  and  other  lands,  he  was  also  a  fervid  revival- 
ist and  a  man  of  affairs;  choleric  and  passionate,  he 
was  ever  swift  to  make  amends;  fond  of  fine  clothes, 
ruffled  shirt  fronts  and  gold  lace  galore,  he  was  also 
devotedly  pious  and  wonderfully  prevalent  in  prayer; 
with  a  beauty  of  face  almost  feminine  in  loveliness,  as 
we  may  judge  by  his  portrait,  his  blue  eyes  were 
piercing  and  his  expression  commanding,  while  his 
voice  was  under  admirable  control  for  majestic,  per- 
suasive or  pathetic  effects  as  occasion  might  require : 
as  a  whole  a  remarkable  combination  of  contrasted 
characteristics. 

No  wonder  that  Whitefield  loved  him!  You  all 
know  the  story  of  the  great  evangelist's  departure. 
After  a  month  of  unexampled  labors  he  sought  the 
house  of  his  friend,  the  next  but  one  to  our  meeting- 
house, and  after  evening  prayers  he  found  the  street 
crowded  with  people  who  wanted  to  hear  him  preach. 
He  halted  on  the  stairway,  candle  in  hand,  on  the 
way  to  what  proved  to  be  his  dying-chamber  and 
ceased  not  to  exhort  them  with  tearful  eyes  till  his 
candle  burned  away  and  went  out  in  its  socket.  At 
six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  Sunday,  Sept.  30,  1770, 
he  entered  Heaven.  He  was  at  his  own  request, 
buried  beneath  the  pulpit  of  this  church,  where  it  had 

3  5 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

been  his  intention  to  preach  the  very  day  of  his  death. 

An  immense  concourse  attended  his  funeral;  harbor 
guns  were  fired,  flags  hung  at  half-mast,  and  thrice 
all  the  bells  were  tolled  for  half-an-hour.  Whitefield 
was  buried  '"  in  gown,  cassock,  bands  and  wig," 
though  these  relics  vanished  long  ago.  Near  him  in 
the  crypt  rests  Mr.  Parsons,  who  died  in  1776,  the 
very  day  the  Declaration  of  Independence  arrived 
here.  There  too  lies  Rev.  Joseph  Prince,  the  inti- 
mate friend  of  Whitefield  and  Parsons.  He  often 
preached  in  this  house,  and  was  admired  for  his 
wonderful  gifts,  as  well  as  pitied  for  his  blindness. 
For  a  number  of  years  his  sermons  averaged  ten  a 
week,  and  he  visited  all  parts  of  New  England,  New 
York  and  New  Jersey,  but  finally  held  several  suc- 
cessive pastorates,  in  which  he  was  greatly  blessed. 
I  have  heard  it  said  that  he  was  childless,  but  it  is  a 
mistake;  he  was  married  and  had  twelve  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Mr.  Murray  preached  his  funeral 
sermon,  after  which  the  body  was  laid  in  the  crypt. 
But  when  Murray  himself  died  he  refused  to  be 
buried  there.  Hence  it  has  been  left  altogether  to 
the  three  friends,  Whitefield,  Parsons  and  Prince. 

The  cenotaph  near  by  was  erected  by  Hon.  William 
Bartlett,  after  a  design  by  Strickland,  executed  by 
Struthers;   and  the  inscription,    that    has    since    been 

3  6 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

reverently  read  by  so  many  thousands,  was  by  Pro- 
fessor Ebenezer  Porter,  D.  D.,  of  Andover  Seminary. 
(So  stated  in  Belcher's  Biography  of  Whitefield, 
P-  443-) 

REV.   JOHN    MURRAY. 

There  could  hardly  be  a  stronger  contrast  than  that 
between  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  and  his  successor. 
Mr.  Murray   was   born  at   Antrim,  Ireland,   May  22, 
1742,  and  was  graduated  with  honor   from   the   Uni- 
versity   of    Edinburgh,   at    a    very    early    age.      He 
entered  the  gospel  ministry  when  only  eighteen  years 
of  age;  but   an    irregularity  about   his  certificate   of 
licensure  embittered  and  limited  an  otherwise   noble 
life.     He  came  to  America  in  1763,  and  after  visiting 
New  York  and  other  places,  he  was  ordained  as  Rev. 
Gilbert  Tennant's  successor  over  the  Second  Presby- 
terian church  in  Philadelphia.     The  people  of  Booth- 
bay,  Maine,  urged  a  call  upon    him'  so   strongly  that, 
notwithstanding  his  brilliant   success  at   Philadelphia 
and  the  unattractive  nature  of  Boothbay,  where  there 
had  never  been  either  church  or  minister,  he  accepted 
their  offer,  and  gathered  a  church  said  to    have   been 
the  largest  in   the    State.     His   popularity   was   very 
great.      Wherever  he  went  he  drew  such  crowds  that, 
at  times  the  meeting-house   had  to   be  "shored  up" 
to  prevent  its  being  rent  asunder. 

37 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Mr.  Murray  ardently  espoused  the  patriotic  side  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  was  a  member,  and  for  a 
time  president  of  the  provincial  Congress,  and  several 
anecdotes  are  recorded  of  his  courage.  The  British 
fleet  pilfered  from  his  parishioners,  and  remonstrances 
were  in  vain.  Then  Murray  donned  his  big  wig, 
bands  and  gown,  went  aboard  the  flag-ship  and  read 
the  Commodore  such  a  philippic  as  ended  the  contro- 
versy. But  later  a  price  of  live  hundred  guineas  was 
set  on  his  head  by  the  British  Government.  This 
peril  had  its  influence  in  making  him  yield  to  the  re- 
peated overtures  that  had  already  come  to  him  from 
Newburyport.  An  effort  had  been  made  in  1769  to 
get  him  as  Mr.  Parsons'1  colleague.  But  the  Booth- 
bay  men  refused  to  give  him  up,  though  recog- 
nizing our  people  as  the  "  patrons  and  friends  of 
oppressed  truth  in  the  worst  of  times"  and  nobly 
struggling  through  "a  torrent  of  persecution.'"' 

Messrs.  Moorehead  and  Parsons  disagreed  as  to 
Mr.  Murray;  which  was  the  beginning  of  a  strife 
that  parted  brethren,  and  hindered  the  formation 
of  the  Synod  of  New  England.  Undoubtedly  Mr. 
Parsons  was  in  the  right,  and  he  was  so  regarded  by 
the  Presbytery.  He  had  written  to  England  and 
satisfied  himself  that  aside  from  early  irregularities 
fully    atoned   for,  the  charges  against  Murray  were 

3  8 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

groundless.  One  effect  of  this  controversy  was  the 
creation  of  the  Presbytery  of  the  Eastward,  June  27, 
177 1,  of  which  Murray  was  "the  father  and  vitalizing 
force."  The  Synod  formed  four  years  later,  and 
lasting  only  six  years,  aimed  to  cover  all  New 
England  and  to  come  into  association  with  existing 
synods  in  other  parts  of  the  country;  but  it  was 
launched  in  troublous  times  and  failed  of  its  praise- 
worthy purpose.  It  was  really  but  a  continuation  of 
the  old  Presbytery  of  Boston,  subdivided  into  three 
presbyteries  of  Londonderry,  Palmer  and  Salem, 
which  latter  presbytery  became  its  legal  successor.* 
Unfortunately  the  synod  rejected  the   Presbytery  of 


*The  following;  dates  will  be  found  at  least  approximately  correct :  The  first  Presbytery 
of  Londonderry,  or  the  so-called  "Irish  Presbytery,"  was  formed  in  1729  and  expired  in 
17S1.  It  held  tenaciously  to  the  Scotch  forms  and  customs.  The  first  Presbvtery  of 
Boston  lasted  from  1745  to  1776,  when  it  practically  became  the  Synod  of  New  England, 
turned  again,  in  17S2,  into  the  Presbytery  of  Salem  that  lasted  till  1791.  The  life  of  the 
Presbytery  of  the  Eastward  was  from  1771  to  1794.  The  Presbytery  of  Grafton,  including 
mainly  New  Hampshire  churches,  was  from  1775  to  1S15.  In  1794  the  new  Presbytery  of 
Londonderry  was  formed,  that  absorbed  the  Presbytery  of  the  Eastward,  and  lasted  till 
1S70.  The  Presbytery  of  Newburyport  was  organized  in  1S26,  and  maintained  a  separate 
existence  till  1S47,  when  it  joined  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry.  This  latter  name,  was 
changed,  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  1S71,  to  the  Presbytery  of  Boston;  which  at 
this  time  includes  forty-two  churches  and  sixty-two  ministers,  and  covers  all  New  England, 
except  Connecticut.  As  nearly  as  can  be  determined  amid  this  tangled  complication,  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Newburyport,  which  joined  the  Presbytery  of  Boston,  Oct. 
4.  1748,  remained  in  it  till  its  expansion  into  the  Synod  of  New  England  in  1776;  then 
probably  joined  the  Presbytery  of  the  Eastward,  with  which  it  was  identified  till  1793; 
then  in  the  Presbyter)'  of  Londonderry  from  1794  to  1S25;  in  the  Presbytery  of  Newbury- 
port from  1S26  to  1S47:  in  that  of  Londonderry  again  from  1S48  to  1S70;  since  when  it  has 
been  in  the  Presbytery  of  Boston.  Forty  graduates  of  Andover  Seminary  were  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Newburyport. 

39 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

the  Eastward,  which  also  seems  to  have  caused  our 
church  to  stand  aloof;  although  this  is  not  easy  of 
proof  as  no  records  remain  of  the  three  presbyteries 
named  above.  I  judge  that  our  church,  after  waver- 
ing awhile,  cast  in  its  lot  with  the  Presbytery  of  the 
Eastward,  as  I  find  a  record  of  that  body's  meeting 
here,  although  our  name  does  not  appear  on  the  roll 
of  its  churches. 

After  Mr.  Parsons'  death  came  a  dreary  vacancy 
for  five  years,  and  then  they  made  another  and  a  suc- 
cessful call  for  Mr.  Murray.  His  translation  hither, 
in  1781,  made  Newburyport  "the  Banner  Church  of 
the  Presbytery."  It  was  no  calumny  to  style  the 
closing  days  of  the  Revolutionary  War  "the  worst  of 
times,'1  if  we  may  judge  from  the  statements  made  in 
an  odd  little  duodecimo  with  the  peculiar  title: 
"Bath-Kol,"  meaning  the  "daughter  of  a  voice,"  or 
"a  voice  from  the  wilderness."  It  was  further  de- 
scribed as  "an  humble  attempt  to  support  the  sinking 
truths  of  God  against  some  of  the  principal  errors 
raging  at  this  time."  What  those  raging  errors  were, 
we  are  informed  in  the  vivid  pictures  drawn  of 
prevalent  atheism,  deism,  heresy,  Sabbath-breaking, 
blasphemy,  intemperance  and  gross  immorality  and 
dishonesty.  The  book  was  from  the  pen  of  Parson 
Murray,  but  it  was  published  by  the  authority  of  the 

40 


JOHN    MURRAY, 
1781-1793. 


VmAlt»dtfcAMV<»iH»»i»*>i.Tw»>«>'Jn 


DANIEL    DANA, 
1794-1820. 


SAMUEL    P.    WILLIAMS, 
1821-1826. 


Presbytery  of  the  Eastward,  with  an  exhortation 
special  measures  of  reform. 

One  way  insisted   on  was  a  faithful  visitation 
every  family  in  every  parish,  not  only  by  the  past 
but  also  by  the  elders.     The  list  of  heart-searchi 
questions    prepared    for   such  visits  by  Mr.  Mun 
were  such  as  would  hardly  now  be  tolerated,  and 
they  must    have  been   fruitful   of  great  good  at 
time.     Their  aim  was  to  heal  divisions,  promote  fa 
ily     piety,    give    instruction    in    the    Bible    and 
catechism,    and    to    secure    the    early  conversion 
children.     As    a   result  of  such  fidelity  this  chu 
was  saved  at  a  crisis  when   many  larger  ones  w 
down  in  disgrace  and  obscurity. 

Murray's  oratory  was  powerful,  and  his  publisl 
sermons  are  master-pieces  of  colonial  eloquei 
He  never  preached  less  than  an  hour,  and  often 
ceeded  two  hours;  yet  held  his  hearers  so  that  t 
could  not  leave,  even  letting  the  Thanksgiving  dir 
spoil,  rather  than  lose  any  of  his  fervid  words. 

But  finally  a  divided  sentiment  arose  by  the  ad\ 
of  a  missionary  from  Lady  Huntingdon's  school, 
Rev.  Charles  W.  Milton,  who,  at  Mr.  Murray's  ( 
suggestion,  was  temporarily  employed  as  his  assis 
during  a  period  of  ill-health  in  1791,  and  whc 
captivated  a  part  of  the  congregation  that  they  w 


41 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

drew.  Judicial  process  followed  with  the  approval 
of  the  Presbyteiy ;  and  on  the  next  sacramental 
Sabbath,  Parson  Murray  publicly  " fenced  the  table'" 
against  the  "covenant-breakers,"  as  he  styled  them. 
The  latter,  after  worshiping  awhile  in  a  private 
house,  the  building  now  known  as  13  Milk  street,  or- 
ganized as  the  "Independent  Calvinistic  Society,"  with 
Mr.  Milton  as  pastor,  and  with  a  body  of  ruling  elders 
as  a  session.  Legally  they  became  the  "  Fourth  Relig- 
ious Society,"  or  as  it  is  popularly  known,  the  Prospect 
Street  Congregational  Church. 

REV.    DANIEL    DANA,    D.    D. 

Still  another  division  shortly  ensued  over  the  set- 
tlement of  Mr.  Murray's  successor,  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Dana,  D.  D.,  in  June,  1794.  The  remonstrants, 
thirty-three  in  number,  retired  without  a  regular  dis- 
mission, and  set  up  a  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
which  was  duly  organized  by  the  Londonderry 
Presbytery,  October  29,  1 795 .  Their  ground  of  dissat- 
isfaction, remonstrance,  and  ultimately  of  withdrawal, 
was  the  notion  that  Dr.  Dana  was  theologically 
unsound;  when  in  reality  he  was  as  firm  as  the  Rock 
of  Gibraltar.  With  them  went  most  of  the  Session, 
the  clerk,  the  treasurer,  the  funds,  and  the  records — 
the  latter  however  being  restored  after  man}'  years. 

42 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Here  it  may  be  stated,  for  the  honor  of  religion, 
that  "healing  acts"  were  subsequently  passed  con- 
cerning all  the  schisms  by  which  the  Church  of  Christ 
had  been  torn  in  this  community.  Rev.  Leonard 
Withington  took  great  pains  to  effect  an  amicable 
settlement  of  all  the  difficulties  between  the  First 
Church  of  Newbury  and  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church;  which  was  done  by  mutual  conference  and 
unanimous  resolutions  passed  by  both  bodies,  October 
17,  18 16.  The  censures  that  our  own  church  had 
felt  obliged  to  lay  on  those  who  withdrew  irregularly 
to  form  the  Prospect  Street  Church  and  the  Sec- 
ond Presbyterian  Church,  were  lifted  after  time  had 
somewhat  softened  the  asperities  of  the  separation. 
And  now,  at  this  late  day,  and  amid  the  festivities  of 
this  anniversary,  comes  the  graceful  action  taken 
officially  by  the  Third  Church,  (the  First  Religious 
Society),  recognizing  us  as  "rectus  in  ecclesia." 
Thus  peace  at  last  prevails  between  the  mother 
churches  and  sister  churches  of  our  beloved  city, 
and  long  may  it  continue! 

Concerning  matters  of  controversy  it  should  be 
remembered,  however,  that  the  fathers  fouffht  for 
cherished  principles.  Theirs  were  earnest  souls;  and 
"Calvinism,"  "Pelagianism,"  " Arminianism,"  "So- 
cinianism,"  and  "  Arianism,"  were  so  many  war-cries 

43 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

of  battles  that  had  to  be  fought.  Then  agrain,  laws 
framed  for  the  right  became  by  perversion  weapons 
of  oppression.  Discontented  members  found  it  hard 
to  get  satisfaction,  dismission,  or  exemption  from 
legal  liabilities.  One  after  another  the  various  de- 
nominations wrenched  from  the  courts  that  very 
right  for  which  the  War  of  the  Revolution  was 
fought,  namely,  exemption  from  taxation  without 
representation.  And  we  think  the)'  did  well  to  make 
peace  with  each  other,  on  all  hands,  after  the  dust 
and  smoke  of  battle  had  cleared  away.  And  the 
same  may  be  said  of  other  controversies  that  were 
inevitable  in  a  formative  state  of  society. 

So  far  as  Dr.  Dana  was  concerned,  the  singular 
misunderstanding  as  to  his  orthodoxy  probably  arose 
from  the  high  degree  of  literary  finish  with  which  he 
clothed  the  rugged  old  Calvinistic  truths.  Men  ac- 
customed to  harsher  ways  of  expression  did  not  at 
first  understand  his  suavity,  nor  see  that  he  was  their 
champion.  The)7  saw  this  so  clearly  at  a  later  day,  as 
to  induce  them  to  call  him  to  serve,  for  twenty  years, 
as  pastor  of  the  identical  body  that  had  originally 
withdrawn  on  his  account. 

Dr.  Dana  was  a  forcible  preacher,  a  clear  expounder 
of  the  Word,  a  sympathetic  pastor,  an  authority 
on  the    classics   and    polite    literature,   and    withal   a 

44 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

keen  controversialist.     The  latter    was  an    enviable 
gift  at  a  time  when,  as  Dr.  Vermilye  remarks,  "The 
town  was   an   epitome    of  New    England.     Scarcely 
any  two  churches  maintained  communion  with    each 
other;  and  of  six  ministers    of  near   denominational 
complexion,  no  two   agreed  in   theology."      Harvard 
College  had  drifted  away  from  its  motto,  "  Christo  et 
Ecclesiaef  and  there  was  a  demand  for  an  orthodox 
theological    seminary.        The    Calvinistic    host    was 
divided  between   those    who  .  held    to    the    unmixed 
teachings   of  Geneva,   and   those   whose   views    had 
been  modified  by  Hopkins  and  others  of  his   school. 
Both  wings  started  simultaneously  theological  simi- 
naries  in   Essex    county,    that    were   coalesced    into 
Andover  Seminary;  and  their  compromise  creed  was 
what  is  now  popularly  known  as  "Orthodoxy,"  in  dis- 
tinction  from   so-called  "Liberal  Christianity."     Dr. 
Dana   was   from  the  first  a  trustee  of  Andover,  and 
fouo-ht  hard  to  keep  the  seminary  sound  in  the  faith.     I 
spare  you  the  details  of  the  controversy  between  Dana 
and  Woods;  but  it  shows  that  Old  Andover,  as  well 
as  New  Andover,  was  a  "storm  centre." 

Dr.  Dana  was  greatly  interested  in  Sunday  schools. 
Probablv  the  first  Sunday  school  in  America  was 
started  at  Roxbury,  in  1674,  but  it  was  short-lived  and 
we  barely  know  of  its  existence.    The  first  to  be  organ- 

45 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

ized  in  a  purely  religious  and  voluntary  form  was 
started  by  Rev.  Robert  Steele,  a  pioneer  Presbyte- 
rian of  Pittsburgh,  in  1800.  The  first  two  of  that 
kind  in  Massachusetts  were  started  here  under  Dr. 
Dana's  ministry,  and  by  members  of  this  church. 
One  formed  in  18 14,  in  our  former  chapel  on  Beck 
street,  was  under  the  direction  of  Miss  Ann  Wheel- 
wright, with  Miss  Dolly  Greenleaf,  and  Miss  Eliza 
Gould  as  assistants.  The  other  school,  though  held 
in  the  chapel  of  the  North  Congregational  Church, 
was  organized  by  Miss  Phoebe  Harrod,  a  member  of 
the  Old  South  Church,  with  the  help  of  the  Misses 
Farnham  and  Carter.  The  first  public  address  made 
on  the  subject  was  by  Dr.  Dana  before  eight  hundred 
children  and  youth  gathered  by  the  "  Newburyport 
Sabbath  School  and  Tract  Society,"  which  dates 
from  November  23,  181 7,  and  whose  neatly  kept 
records  are  in  our  Pastoral  Library.  The  First 
Religious  Society  withdrew  from  the  union  in  1824, 
and  others  at  a  later  day,  the  society  being  disbanded 
in  1835.  This  organization,  it  will  be  observed,  ante- 
dated by  several  years,  the  national  societies  started 
at  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  in  creating  which 
our  local  society  had  an  important  share. 

The  fact  is  also   memorable  that  some  of  the  first 
missionaries  sent  out  by  the   American   Board   were 

46 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ordained    in    our    church.     The    first    five,    Newell, 
Judson,  Hall,   Nott  and  Rice   were  set  apart  in  the 
Tabernacle  of  Salem,  (which  originally  belonged   to 
the  Presbytery  of  Salem;)  but  the  second  set,  namely, 
Samuel  J.  Mills,  James   Richards,  Edward  Warren, 
Benjamin   C.   Meigs,  Horatio  Bardwell    and    Daniel 
Poor,  were  ordained  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Newburyport,  and  Dr.  Dana  gave  them  their  ordi- 
nation charge.     Dr.  Cornelius  preached  a  missionary 
sermon  here  the  next  year,  and   took  a  collection   of 
$230,   which  he  said  was  the  largest  single  offering 
that  had  thus  far  been  made  to  the  cause  of  missions. 
Dr.  Dana  was  among  the  promoters  of  the  Merrimac 
Bible   Society,  the  Merrimac   Humane  Society,  the 
Female    Charitable    Society,    and    other    benevolent 
associations. 

In  1820  Dr.  Dana  accepted  a  call  to  the  presidency 
of  Dartmouth  College.  Subsequently  he  served  the 
church  at  Londonderry  for  four  or  five  years,  and 
then  returned  to  this  city  as  pastor  for  twenty  years 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  His  remains 
repose  in  the  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  and  his  memory  is 
fragrant  in  our  hearts.  His  published  discourses 
were  numerous  and  constitute  a  valuable  part  of  the 
religious  literature  of  New  England. 


47 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 
REV.    SAMUEL    P.    WILLIAMS. 

After  Dr.  Dana's  departure  a  unanimous  call  was 
given,  in  182 1,  to  Rev.  Samuel  P.  Williams,  whose 
ministry  was  ended  by  death  in  1826.  He  was  born 
at  Weathersfield,  Conn.,  in  1779,  and  sprang  from  a 
distinguished  ancestry.  He  was  moreover  a  preco- 
cious youth,  being  graduated  with  honor  from  Yale 
College  at  the  early  age  of  17  years.  For  some  time 
he  was  a  merchant.  But  after  his  conversion,  in 
1803,  he  studied  theology  with  president  Dwight,  and 
also  with  Dr.  Howard,  of  Springfield,  with  whom  he 
was  invited  to  act  as  a  colleague-pastor.  He  decided, 
however,  to  accept  a  call  to  Mansfield,  with  the 
understanding  that  he  should  be  silent  as  to  the  Uni- 
tarian controversy.  But  after  two  years  of  such 
silence  he  felt  impelled  to  try  to  convince  his  people 
of  the  Deity  of  Christ,  with  the  result  that  after  a 
long  struggle,  his  ministry  was  closed  in  that  place. 
Yet  the  fact  should  be  noted,  as  a  proof  of  his  dili- 
gence, that  during  those  ten  years  Mr.  Williams 
preached  nine  hundred  sermons.  Pardon  me  for  also 
mentioning  the  fact  that  my  great-grand-parents 
were  among  his  parishioners  in  Mansfield,  and  helped 
him  fight  his  battles  for  orthodoxy. 

The  impression  left  in  Newburyport  is  that  Mr. 
Williams    was    a    strong,    pungent    and    even    blunt 

4S 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

preacher,  ploughing  the  fallow  field  from  which 
others  were  to  reap  a  rich  harvest.  Yet  others  testify 
that  his  burning  words  were  spoken  with  a  melodious 
voice,  and  with  such  a  profusion  of  illustrations  as  to 
win  those  whom  another  might  have  repelled.  He 
bought  no  man's  friendship  by  deceit;  nor  did  he 
ever  screen  his  own  faults  by  hypocrisy.  He  was 
mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  and  had  many  souls  given 
him  as  seals  of  his  ministry.  His  perfect  transpar- 
ency of  character  convinced  even  scoffers  that  he 
was  sincere.  He  might  wisely  have  been  more 
suave  and  flexible,  without  sacrificing  the  truth;  but 
we  cannot  withhold  our  tribute  of  respect  from  a 
man  who  was  so  determined  to  purge  the  church  of 
all  dross  and  to  make  it  shine  as  pure  gold* 

His  last  sickness  was  lingering  and  painful,  but  he 
"  died  in  the  harness."  His  fidelity  to  duty  made 
him  continue  to  preach  even  when  his  bodily  feeble- 
ness obliged  him  to  deliver  his  message  while  sitting 
in  a  chair  instead  of  standing  in  the  pulpit.  Thus  he 
gave  his  final  sermon  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  1826; 
and  it  is  significant  that  his  topic  was  ''The  Value  of 


The  last  exchange  of  pulpits  between  the  Presbyterian  and  Unitarian  ministers  here 
was  in  1S23,  when  Mr.  Williams,  in  an  exchange  with  Mr.  Andrews,  took  advantage  ot 
the  occasion  to  preach  a  strong  Trinitarian  sermon  that  led  to  a  sharp  controversy.  It 
maybe  doubted,  however,  if  the  First  Religious  Society  became  decided  in  its  stand  until 
the  d;iys  of  Mr.  Fox,  who  sought  for  a  middle  ground  between  Calvinism  and  Farkerism. 

49 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Life."  Even  in  that  hour  the  seal  of  death  was  on 
his  brow,  and  within  a  month  he  died,  triumphant  in 
the  faith  to  which  he  had  been  so  steadfast  and  loyal. 
When  Dr.  Withington  broke  the  news  to  him  that 
he  was  soon  to  die,  Mr.  Williams  said:  "I  trust  in 
my  Savior  alone;  the  purposes  of  God  are  right,  and 
I  have  no  wish  to  alter  them."  That  impressive  tes- 
timony was  characteristic  of  the  man. 

THE    PASTORATES    OF    DRS.   PROUDFIT  AND    STEARNS 

belong  to  the  domain  to  be  traversed  by  another. 
But  a  few  words  may  not  be  amiss  here.  Both  men 
had  many  friends  and  deserved  them.  Dr.  Proudfit 
was  born  at  Salem,  N.  Y.,  in  1803,  and  graduated  at 
Union,  in  182 1.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  classical 
scholar,  a  fine  writer,  abounding  in  delightful  thoughts 
apt  to  be  absorbed  in  his  meditations  but  when  aroused 
excelled  in  conversation,  and  was  an  excellent  pastor. 
His  friends  styled  him  "  the  beloved  John." 

A  grand  enterprise  was  undertaken  early  in  the 
ministry  of  Dr.  Proudfit,  being  nothing  less  than  the 
erection  of  a  "Monumental  Temple,"  in  honor  of 
Whitefield.  Subscriptions  amounting  to  several 
thousand  dollars  were  obtained,  and  the  pastor  was 
to  solicit  the  remainder  in  England.  But  for  some 
reason  the  project  did  not  meet  with  due  encourage- 

50 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ment.  Next  it  was  voted  to  build  a  brick  church  on 
the  site  of  this  edifice.  But  it  was  finally  concluded 
to  let  the  old  meeting-house  stand,  only  repairing  and 
modernizing  it  to  some  degree.  This  was  done  in 
1829;  and  again  and  still  further  in  1856.  There 
was  a  proviso  that  if  this  was  done  "the  proprietors 
should  sell  all  their  right  and  title  to  the  Society." 

A  plan  of  the  old  meeting-house,  as  it  appeared 
before  these  alterations  were  made,  is  to  be  seen  hang- 
ing on  the  wall  of  our  chapel,  and  it  has  some  unique 
features.  When  erected  it  was  said  to  be  the  largest 
church  building  in  New  England;  and  the  parish 
at  one  time  included  two  thousand  souls.  The 
frame-work  of  the  structure  was  of  white  oak  from 
the  farms  of  the  members.  The  wrought  iron  nails 
came  from  England.  The  raising  took  three  days, 
on  which  occasion  Rev.  John  Moorehead  of  Boston 
preached.  It  was  first  occupied  regularly  for  worship 
in  August,  1756;  and  the  next  week  the  chapel  on 
High  street  was  taken  down.  The  plan  shows  the 
audience  room  to  have  been  larger  than  it  is  now,  be- 
ing ninety  feet  long  by  sixty-three  feet  broad,  with 
towers  at  each  end,  making  the  entire  length  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  feet.  The  front  door  was  on 
School  street,  from  which  a  broad  aisle  ran  to  the  pul- 
pit,  which  was  then  on  the  East   side.     Two   other 

5i 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

narrower  ones  ran  from  East  to  West,  and  live  from 
North  to  South.  There  were  one  hundred  and  forty 
square  pews  with  seats  all  around  and  a  chair  in  the 
middle.  These  seats  were  on  hinges,  which  were 
lifted  during  prayers  and  dropped  with  a  loud  noise 
at  the  "Amen."  The  Elders'  pew  was  in  front  of 
the  pulpit,  with  the  seat  for  the  Deacons  in  front  of 
that  and  lower  down.  The  seat  for  the  sexton  was 
at  the  side  of  the  pulpit,  whence  he  could  conven- 
iently hand  his  regular  batch  of  notices  to  the  pastor. 
The  tything-men  occupied  rear  seats  and  carried 
their  official  rods,  (still  kept  as  relics)  whereby  to 
strike  the  rebellious  youth  with  awe.  Special  seats 
were  set  apart  for  the  negroes.  A  huge  canopy,  or 
sounding-board  was  hung  by  iron  rods  from  the  attic 
and  over-shadowed  the  pulpit  and  official  pews. 
The  stairways  to  the  three  broad  galleries  were  in  the 
towers;  and  at  one  time  a  public  library  was  kept  in 
one  of  the  towers.  As  long  ago  as  1767  the  parish 
voted  to  uput  in  seats  for  ye  singers"  in  the  gallery; 
and  two  years  later  they  voted  to  make  "additional 
seats  for  ye  singing  women.11 

FACTS  FROM  THE  OLD  RECORDS. 

Some  curious  things  have  been  unearthed  from  the 
records   of  the  parish,   and  other    sources,    and    the 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


m 


ine    is    by    no    means  exhausted.     The  service  of 
sacred  praise  was  long  a  fruitful  subject  of  contention 
in    colonial    New    England.     The    Scotch  churches 
used  what  is  known  as  Rouse's  Version  of  the  Psalms 
of  David;  while  the  Congregational  churches  mainly 
used    "The    Bay    State    Version"    made    by    Elliot, 
Mather  and  Weld.     This  church,  however,  from  the 
first  preferred  the  version  made  by  Dr.   Isaac  Watts, 
and  afterwards  enlarged  by  Dr.  Worcester  of  Salem, 
into  what  was  known  as  "Watts  and  Select."     The 
Presbytery  contented  itself  with  recommending  this 
version  "as  well    adapted    to    the    New    Testament 
Church,"    which   was   more  judicious  than   it  might 
have  been  to  try  to  compel  churches  to  adopt  Watts 
in  preference  to  Rouse.     The  custom  at  first  was  to 
"  deacon  the  hymn,"  that  is  to  have  a  precentor  lead, 
rirst  reading  two  lines,  the  congregation  following  as 
best  they  might,  everybody  singing  whether  in  tune 
or  out  of  tune.     At  Londonderry,  as  late  as  1802,  an 
article  in  the  annual  warrant  was  "to  see  if  the  Parish 
will  agree  to  have  the  singing  carried   on  in  future 
without  reading  the    line."     It    was  referred  to  the 
Session,  which   formed  a    choir,    who    on    the    next 
Sunday  rode  right  over  the  precentor  as  he   vainly 
strove  to  maintain  his  ancient  rights. 


53 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

In  our  parish  the  better  way  was  chosen,  in  1807, 
of  making  a  liberal  appropriation  "for  a  singing 
school  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  "  previous  to 
which  it  is  said  that  a  few  old  tunes  had  to  do  service 
on  all  occasions,  twisted  in  every  imaginable  way. 
Dr.  Dana  did  much  to  improve  the  church  music.  In 
his  day  the  singing  was  led  by  Mr.  William  Woods, 
who  was  also  helped  by  the  clarionet  and  violoncello. 
Dr.  Dana  preached  and  lectured  on  sacred  music  and 
helped  to  organize  a  musical  society  for  the  Merrimac 
valley.  In  1833  the  parish  purchased  a  pipe  organ 
which  has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  in 
the  region.  A  well-worn  copy  of  the  ''Revival  Mel- 
odies" has  been  handed  me  by  one  of  our  oldest 
members,  with  the  assurance  that  it  was  used  at  early 
evangelistic  meetings,  and  caused  excitement  as  an 
innovation.  It  contained  such  melodies  as  "The 
Morning  Light  is  Breaking;"  "I  Would  Not  Live 
Alway;"  "O  Turn  Ye,  O  Turn  Ye;71  "When  Shall 
We  Meet  Again?"  and  similar  songs  that  then  had 
the  charm  of  novelty. 

For  seventy  years  those  who  crowded  this  church 
depended  on  foot-stoves  altogether  for  warmth  in 
winter;  while  the  minister  preached  in  his  ample 
cloak,  and  wore  gloves  with  a  finger  and  thumb  cut 
off  to  enable  him  the  better  to  turn   the   leaves.     A 

5  4 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

law  was  made  allowing  the  sexton  twenty  cents  for 
each  foot-stove  that  he  had  to  fill  before  service  and 
remove  afterwards.     A  great  sensation  was  made    in 
1 8 19  by  the  introduction  of  wood  stoves  at  an  outlay 
of  $100.     The  first  day  they  were  in  place  the  people 
were  so  overcome  that   some  of  them  fainted  away 
and  were  carried  out  of  the  house ;  but  they  revived 
on  learning  that  as  yet  no  fires  had   been  kindled   in 
the    new    stoves.     The    doors   of  the   stoves   opened 
into  the  ample  vestibule,  where  the  custom  continued 
of  ranging  the  many  foot-stoves  in   a  wide  circle  to 
be  filled  with  live  coals  from  the  stove.     In  1856  coal 
stoves    replaced    the   wood-stoves;   and   when   these 
had  burned  out,  furnaces   were   introduced   in    1868, 
although  by  some  a  preference  was  shown  for  steam- 
heat. 

In  18 10  the  land  adjoining  the  meeting-house  was 
bought,  on  which  a  chapel  was  erected  at  the  cost  of 
$300.  This  was  the  old  brick  chapel  on  Beck  street, 
where  the  first  Sunday  School  was  started  in  18 14. 
The  building  was  sold  to  the  Roman  Catholics  and 
removed  to  Charles  street  in  1843,  thus  becoming  the 
birthplace  of  that  organization  which  has  since  grown 
to  such  size  by  the  influx  of  elements  favorable  to  its 
tenets.  A  new  chapel  was  built  by  us  in  1843,  front- 
ing   on    School   street.      It  was  afterwards  enlarged 

5  5 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

and  joined  with  the  main  edifice  by  connecting  halls. 
A  memorial  class-room  was  added  in  1885,  at  the 
instance  of  the  late  Dr.  Frank  A.  Hale,  who  was  at 
that  time  the  Sunday  School  Superintendent. 

It  was  in  this  chapel  that  a  church  was  organized 
in  connection  with  the  labors  of  Rev.  John  W.  Em- 
erson, a  member  of  our  church,  and  a  graduate  from 
Amherst  College  and  Princeton  Seminar}7.  That 
was  January  1st,  1850,  and  at  the  evening  services, 
held  in  the  main  room,  there  was  a  great  conofresation. 
This  youngest  daughter  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church — I  think  we  may  greet  her  as  such,  although 
man)'  members  were  drawn  from  another  church — 
took  the  name  of  the  Whitefield  Church.  This  has 
often  caused  confusion  in  the  minds  of  strangers, 
who  naturally  expect  to  find  the  relics  of  the  great 
evangelist  where  his  name  is  found. 

THE  CULMINATION  OF  OUR  CHURCH. 

It  is  no  disparagement  to  the  congregation  of  to- 
day for  us  to  concede  that  thus  far  in  its  history  our 
church  reached  its  high  water  mark  during  the  pas- 
torates of  Drs.  Stearns,  Vermilye  and  Richardson, 
that  is  during  the  period  of  thirty-three  years  between 
1835  and  1868.  By  agreement  with  our  beloved 
guest,  Dr.  Vermilye  this  field  is  to  be  left  for  him  to 

5  6 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

cover  in  his  reminiscences.  For  the  same  reason  I 
deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  giving  many  of  those 
personal  anecdotes  and  bits  of  romance  and  humor 
that  add  fragrance  and  spice  to  the  otherwise  dry 
details  of  history.  I  must  also  for  other  reasons  for- 
bear from  entering  the  wide  range  of  collateral 
history,  concerning  the  civic,  mercantile,  commercial, 
political  and  educational  career  of  our  beautiful  city 
by  the  sea;  in  all  which  our  fathers  shared  like  true 
men  of  enterprise,  loyal  citizens  and  brave  soldiers, 
but  which  belongs  to  the  general  history  of  the  com- 
munity, rather  than  to  any  one  congregation. 

I  knew  Dr.  Stearns  personally,  and  loved  him,  as 
a  boy  might  love  the  life-long  friend  of  his  father. 
The  two  men  were  always  intimate  and  interchanged 
visits;  and  no  other  minister  whom  I  ever  saw  left 
so  vivid  an  impression  of  pure,  spiritual  loveliness,  as 
was  left  on  me  by  Dr.  Stearns,  that  saintly  man  of 
God.  After  a  fruitful  and  happy  pastorate  of  fourteen 
years  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  the  Fourth  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Newark,  N.  J.  At  one  time  he 
was  the  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  and 
enjoyed  many  other  merited  honors.  His  address  at 
the  consecration  of  Oak  Hill  Cemetery,  and  his 
centennial  address  in  1846,  were  models  of  clearness, 
elegance  and  pathos. 


5  7 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Of  the  seventh  pastor,  Dr.  Vermilye,  it  might  be 
more  easy  to  speak  were  he  not  by  my  side.  There 
is  no  need  of  our  praising  his  ability  as  a  minister  of 
the  Word,  his  loyalty  as  a  champion  of  the  truth, 
his  vigilance  as  a  pastor,  his  urbanity  and  culture  as 
a  christian  gentleman,  for  all  this  is  already  and 
widely  known.  His  ministry  here  had  a  somewhat 
stormy  beginning  because  a  faction  was  determined 
to  change  the  ancient  constitution  of  the  church. 
But  when  that  question  had  been  settled  the  clouds 
cleared  away,  and  no  pastor  ever  succeeded  better  in 
winning  and  keeping  the  affection  of  his  flock,  or  in 
extending  a  beneficent  influence  beyond  its  limits. 
We  admire,  honor  and  love  this  eminent  servant  of 
Christ,  and  pray  that  many  happy  years  ma)'  be 
added  to  his  earthly  life  before  he  enters  on  his 
heavenly  reward. 

Many  of  the  most  important  improvements  in  the 
appearance  of  the  meeting-house  were  made  during 
his  pastorate;  especially  the  substitution  of  the  long 
windows  for  those  smaller  ones  that  made  the  build- 
ing look  like  a  two-story  structure;  and  the  elegant 
frescoing  on  the  walls  and  ceiling  that  so  many 
visitors  have  admired.  It  is  to  his  fondness  for  his- 
torical research  that  we  are  indebted  for  much  val- 
uable material  that  else  might  have  been  lost  forever. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Richard  H.  Richardson 
this  church  lost  none  of  its  former  prestige  and  influ- 
ence.  Those  were  the  palmy  days  when  "a  sea-captain 
sat  at  the  end  of  every  pew   down  the  broad  aisle," 
and  when  men  were  fortunate  who  could  secure  a  pew 
anywhere    in  the  sanctuary.     Dr.  Richardson  came 
here  after  a  varied  ministry  in  Chicago,  Rochester 
and  elsewhere;  and  when  he  left  this  field,  in    1868, 
it  was    to    accept   a  call  to  an  important  charge  in 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  where  he  spent  twenty  years  of  active 
and  honorable  service.      His    later  years  were  spent 
in  literary  pursuits,  particularly  as  one  of  the   editors 
of   the   -Standard    English   Dictionary."      His  death 
took  place  in  1892;  and  his  remains  rest  in  our  beau- 
tiful Oak  Hill  Cemetery.    The  story  of  his  life  may  be 
found,  together  with  numerous  tributes  from  appre- 
ciative friends,  in  an  exquisite  memorial  volume  pre- 
pared as  a  labor  of  love  by  one  who  knew  and  loved 
him  best.     His  ardor  as  a  patriot,  brilliancy  as  a  pulpit 
orator,   sympathy  and    generosity    as    a    pastor,    and 
diligence  as  a  scholar,  combined  to  make  him  a  man 
widely  known  and  universally  beloved. 

THE    LATER    PASTORS. 

The  Rev.  Charles  S.  Durfee,  born  at  South   Ded- 
ham,  in  1844,  graduated  from  Williams  College  and 

5  9 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Hartford  Seminary,  came  to  this  pastorate  as  his  first 
settlement,  and  after  four  years  of  faithful  ministry 
accepted  a  call  to  Troy,  N.  Y.  Subsequent  labors 
were  at  Geneseo,  Liverpool  and  East  Bloomfield, 
where  he  died,  December  24,  1887,  lamented  by  his 
many  friends.  His  memorial  by  Rev.  S.  A.  Freeman, 
speaks  of  him  as  "a  Puritan  of  Puritan  stock,  with  a 
Puritan's  keen  discernment  of  right  and  wrong,  the 
Puritan's  strong  attachment  to  the  right  as  he  saw  it, 
and  the  Puritan's  intense  aversion  to  whatever  he  be- 
lieved to  be  wrong,  whether  in  himself  or  others,  in 
public  or  in  private  life."  It  cannot  be  denied  that 
his  out-spoken  frankness  excited  antagonism  from 
which  he  might  otherwise  have  been  spared.  He 
was  a  firm  champion  of  righteous  reform;  his  last 
public  act  was  to  vote  the  Prohibition  ticket;  and 
his  dying  charge  to  his  sons  was  that  they  should  do 
their  full  share  in  what  he  regarded  as  the  great 
struggle  between  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of 
Satan.  Yet  the  testimony  of  his  co-laborers  was 
that  he  was  determined  everywhere  and  at  all  haz- 
ards to  "preach  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified." 

We  have  so  recently  and  in  the  most  public  man- 
ner observed  the  obsequies  of  Rev.  William  Newell, 
Jr.,  who  followed  Mr.  Durfee,  as  to  make  it  hardly 
necessary  for  me  now   to   do   more  than   to   remind 

60 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

you  of  what  was  then  said  as  to   his   excellent  quali- 
ties as  a  man  and  a  minister.     His  pastorate  extended 
from  May,  1874,  to  June   1880,  when  waning  health 
made  it  necessary  for  him   to    seek  a  foreign  clime, 
and  his  remaining  work  in   life   was    done  amid    the 
American    students    in    Paris,    France.     The    prime 
aim  of  his  ministry  here  and   elsewhere  was    to  win 
souls;   and  in  that  work  he  was  eminently  successful. 
He  was  welcome  everywhere,   among  the    most  re- 
fined and  the  roughest;  fond  of  the  sea  and  a  favorite 
with  fishermen;  generous  to  the  poor,  and  systematic 
in  his  liberality;  eminently  Scriptural  in  his  sermons, 
and  always  aiming  at  immediate  results,  it   is    not  to 
be  wondered  at  that  he  gathered  many  converts.      He 
showed  rare  tact  in  dealing  with  the  types  of  charac- 
ter found  in  this  unique  community.      He  was  one  of 
the  promoters,    if    not    among    the    founders   of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  here.*     And  in- 
deed it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his  zeal  cost  him 


*The  Youn.  Men's  Christian  Association  in  Newburyport  was  originally  started  under 
Dr  Richardson's  pastorate,  with  Philip  H.  Lunt,  president,  James  Horton,  secretary,  and 
George  II.  Stevens,  treasurer.  It  was  formed  mainly  for  evangelistic  work,  and  had  its 
head-quarters  in  the  second  story  of  «3  Market  Square.  It  was  re-organized,  in  its  present 
form  during  Mr.  Newell's  ministry,  March  3.,  1S74,  and  held  its  meetings  in  the  same 
locality  There  was  a  long  break,  between  .*77  and  1883,  when  it  took  a  new  lease  of  hie 
with  Dr.  F.  A.  Hale  as  president,  and  Alexander  Dixon  as  vice-president.  From  that 
time  to  this  it  has  had  a  course  of  uninterrupted  activity.  In  fixing  dates  by  the  above 
pastorates  it  is  not  meant  to  claim  any  more  than  belongs  to  us  as  sharers  in  a  work  that 
concerned  the  religious  public  generally. 

6l 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

his  health  and  shortened  a  pastorate  that  his  people 
would  have  gladly  prolonged.  His  mantle  has  fallen 
on  his  three  sons,  who  are  consecrated  to  the  Gospel 
ministry.  The  entire  period  of  Mr.  Newell's  labors 
in  Paris  covered  sixteen  years.  At  first  he  was 
active  in  the  McCall  Mission,  but  afterwards  he  min- 
istered in  St.  Luke's  Episcopal  Chapel,  better  known 
as  the  "Students'  Church"  which  was  built  up  by  his 
agency  in  the  Latin  Quarter,  where  his  funeral  took 
place,  and  whence  his  remains  were  carried  to  repose 
in  Montparnasse  cemetery. 

His  successor  here  was  Rev.  Charles  C.  Wallace, 
D.  D.,  who  was  installed  in  1881,  and  resigned  in 
1888.  Dr.  Wallace  was  decidedly  a  New  York 
man.  He  was  born  in  that  city  June  3,  1832;  was 
a  graduate  of  the  New  York  University,  and  of  Union 
Seminary;  was  ordained  by  the  Third  Presbytery  of 
New  York;  received  his  honorary  doctorate  from 
Rutgers  College;  held  three  pastorates  in  the  State 
of  New  York  before  coming  to  Newburyport,  be- 
sides one  in  New  Jersey,  and  one  in  California;  and 
twice  he  had  the  honor  of  serving  as  the  Moderator 
of  the  Synod  of  New  York.  Dr.  Wallace  was  an 
earnest  worker  in  the  ministry,  a  staunch  defender 
of  orthodoxy,  and  held  tenaciously  to  his  convictions 
on  every  subject.     He  was  a  frequent  writer   for  the 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

religious  journals  and  magazines,  and  several  of 
his  sermons  appeared  in  pamphlet  form.  His  his- 
tory of  Presbyterianism  in  New  England,  still 
in  manuscript,  is  unquestionably  the  most  complete 
work  of  the  kind  yet  prepared,  and  through  the  kind- 
ness of  his  family  it  has  been  freely  consulted  in  the 
preparation  of  this  discourse.  Dr.  Wallace's  health 
failed  about  the  time  that  he  left  here,  and  he  died, 
December  22,  1889,  at  Westfield,  N.  J.  His  family 
reside  at  Newbury,  Vermont. 

Next  came  the  Rev.  Brevard  D.  Sinclair,  a  native 
of  Charlotte,  N.  C,  who  began  public  life  as  a 
lawyer,  but  after  a  few  years  decided  to  enter  the 
ministry.  Accordingly  he  studied  theology  at  Alle- 
gheny and  at  Princeton,  being  graduated  from  the 
latter  Seminary  in  1887.  He  preached  for  two  years 
at  Fowlerville,  N.  Y.,  and  then  accepted  a  call  to 
Newburyport,  where  he  was  installed  May  1,  1889. 
He  resigned  in  1892,  and  went  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
where  he  was  employed  in  ministerial  work  first  at 
Seattle,  Wash.,  and  afterward  at  Placerville,  Cal. 
His  marked  personality,  social  qualities,  orthodoxy, 
magnetic  power  and  ability  in  the  pulpit  have  been 
generally  recognized.  His  career  here,  however,  is 
so  recent  as  hardly  to  need,  as  yet,  to  be  traced  by 
the  pen  of  history. 

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ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

A  few  facts  may  now  be  given  concerning  his  suc- 
cessor  without  infringing  on   propriety,   in   order  to 
complete   this  historical  survey  of  pastorates.     The 
present  pastor  took  his  academic  course  at  Wabash  Col- 
lege and  his  diploma  in  theology  from  Lane  Seminary. 
His  original  purpose  was  to  spend   his  life  in  scien- 
tific pursuits,  and  he   has  the  distinction  of  belong- 
ing to  several  of  the  national  scientific  societies.     But 
the  strong  sweep  of  God's  loving  providence  carried 
him   into  the   active    work   of  the    Gospel    ministry. 
Among    his  later  charges  previous  to  coming   here 
were  those  at  New   Haven,  Minneapolis  and  Bridge- 
port.    He  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Newbur}Tport 
on    the     1 8th   of     December,     1892,    and    occasion- 
ally supplied  the  pulpit  during  the  Winter.      He  was 
duly  installed,    May  9,    1893,    by    the  presbytery  of 
Boston.     It  must  be  left  for  some  other  hand  to  sum 
up  the  final  results  of  the  work    thus    begun.      My 
heart  bids  me  testify  to  the  loyalty  and  fidelity  of  the 
people  among  whom  my  lot  has  now  been  cast.      May 
the  God  of  our  Fathers,  who  has    brought  us    safely 
thus  far,  help  us,  as  people  and  pastor,  to   make   the 
current   history  worthy  in    every   way  of  that  which 
has  already  been  recorded. 


64 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 
THE    ROLL    OF    MEMBERSHIP. 

A  grateful   tribute,  however  brief,  should  be  paid 
to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  sacramental  host,  of  whom 
those  whose  names  are  blazoned  on  yon  mural  tablet 
were  but  the  standard  bearers.      What  could  the  latter 
have     done   without   the   aid  of  the    noble    army  of 
godly  men  and  women  who  followed  their  leadership  ? 
Every  faithful  member  of  this  church  has  done  his 
part  in  making  up  its  history.     Selecting  a  single  in- 
stance  from   the    many    that    might    be    cited,    how 
indispensable,  in  the  early  days,  was  such  a  man  as 
Ralph  Cross.      He  served  as  a  Ruling  Elder  here  for 
forty-one  years,  besides  holding  several  other  offices 
in  Church  and  Parish.     He  gave  generously  toward 
the  building  of  the  sanctuary  and  the  support  of  the 
Gospel.     It  is  said  that  he  actually  boarded  the  first 
pastor  gratuitously  for   three  years.     It  was   he  who 
gave  the  old  "  Whitefield  Bible  "  that  was  used  in  this 
pulpit  until  it  was    laid   aside   for  the    more   modern 
one  presented   by  Elder  Moses  Pettingell,  when  the 
older  copy  was  reverently  laid  amid  the  treasures  of 
the  society.     This  reminds  me  to  say  that  the  usual 
Puritan  custom  was  to  refrain  from  the  public  reading 
of  the  Scriptures,  which  was  not  allowed  in  the  Third 
Parish  till  1750,  nor  in  the  First  till  1769;  but  in  our 

65 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

public  services  the  Word  of  God  was  always  read. 
And  what  is  known  as  King  James' version  is  the 
one  that  has  always  been  in  use;  although  in  the 
elegant  chapel  Bible  recently  given  by  the  late  Miss 
Phoebe  Harrod,  both  the  old  and  new  versions  ap- 
pear— the  latter  being  regarded  simply  as  a  commen- 
tary on  the  former. 

In  1862  Mr.  Moody  Cook  delivered  a  Genealogical 
Address  giving  a  history  of  the  parishioners  and 
founders  of  this  Church  from  1745,  witn  tne  names 
of  their  then  living  descendants  in  the  parish;  to 
which  you  are  referred  for  many  of  those  particulars 
that  we  would  gladly  make  room  for  here  were  it 
practicable.  I  wish  we  might  call  the  long  roll  of 
ruling  elders,  deacons,  committee-men,  treasurers 
and  collectors,  choristers  and  organists,  tithing-men 
and  sextons,  Sunday-school  officers  and  teachers, 
who  have  done  so  nobly  towards  maintaining  the  vi- 
tality and  energy  of  this  society. 

The  entire  church  membership,  from  the  begin- 
ning has  been  exactly  eighteen  hundred  and  seven, 
omitting  duplicates.  That  may  not  represent  a  rapid 
growth;  but  it  is  substantial  and  stands  for  an  aver- 
age addition  of  one  new  name  a  month  from  the  first 
until  now.  More  names  might  have  been  added  had 
not  our  standard  been  high  and  our  discipline   strict 

66 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Then  remember  the  fact  that  this   church   has  thrice 
swarmed;  thus  carrying  away  from  our  bounds  sev- 
eral hundreds  who  might   have   otherwise   stayed   in 
our  communion;  and  although  we  love  them  we  miss 
them   numerically  and    in   every  way.     Ours   would 
probably  be  today  the  largest  church  in  the  common- 
wealth, could  we  only  have  held   on  to  what   rightly 
belonged  to  us.     Then   again,   many  of  our  younger 
people  have  gone  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  the  West, 
or  the  South,  or   in   larger   Eastern   cities   than   this. 
It  is  likewise  a   painful  fact   that   death   has,  of  late, 
sadly  thinned  the  ranks  of  our  older  members.    When 
I  came  here  there  were,  by  count,  fifty  parishioners 
who  were  over  seventy  years  of  age;  and  such  saints 
on  earth  are  rapidly  nearing  Heaven. 

Our  total  living  membership  today  is  two  hundred 
and  seventy  souls;  and  our  Sunday-school,  including 
all  departments,  has  about  the  same  number  enrolled. 
Many  others  worship  with  us  whose  friendship  and 
co-operation  we  value,  and  yet  who  have  not  entered 
into  covenant  with  us.  We  have  flourishing  Christ- 
ian Endeavor  societies,  both  senior  and  junior;  our 
Ladies'  Board  of  Missions  is  vigorous  and  useful; 
the  Whitefield  Circle  cares  for  the  chapel  building; 
the  Greenleaf  Circle  makes  a  specialty  of  sending 
boxes  to   home    missionaries  and  the  Freedmen;  the 

67 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Association   takes   care   of 
the  parsonage;   our  regular  Female   Prayer-meeting 
has  been  kept  alive  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years ;  we 
contribute  to  all  the  benevolent  boards  of  the  denom- 
ination and   take   a   commendable   interest  in    many 
outside   religious   causes.       The    parish    property   is 
estimated  at  $30,000,  and  we  are  free    from    debt. 
We  know  not  what  the  Lord  may  have  in   store   for 
us  as  a  congregation;  but  we  feel  sure  that  we    may 
have  a  future  equal  to,  if  different  from,  our  favored 
past;   provided   that  we   have   the  wisdom,  tact   and 
grace  to   adapt   ourselves   to   our   modified    circum- 
stances.    We  do  this  in  secular  matters,  and  why  not 
in  religious  affairs  ?     There  was  a  time  when,  as  Hon. 
Caleb  Cushing  tells   us,   there   were   actually  owned 
here    in     Newburyport,    forty-one    ships,    sixty-two 
brigs,    sixty-six   schooners,   besides   other   craft   not 
enumerated;   a  time    when    a   hundred   vessels  were 
building  at  once  in   our    ship-yards,    thus    supporting 
thirty-two  distinct  trades,  and  several  hundred  hardy 
workmen  with  their  families.     And   those   were   the 
days,  so  often   referred  to,  when  a  sea  captain  sat   at 
the  end  of  every  pew  down   our   broad    aisle.     Will 
those  days  ever  return? 


6S 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 
THE    OUTLOOK. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  our  maritime  glory 
has  gone  into  history  and  will  stay  there.  But  our 
citizens  are  men  of  enterprise  and  thrift  and  strong 
common  sense;  and  they  do  not  sit  idly  deploring 
those  palmy  days  that  have  departed.  They  foster 
local  trade  and  home  industries;  they  invite  the 
building  of  factories;  they  improve  their  streets  and 
parks  and  charming  environs,  thus  attracting  hither 
people  of  taste  and  culture  who  can  appreciate  the 
various  advantages  offered  by  this  city  by  the  sea. 
The  result  is  that  we  have  today  more  homes  and 
more  people  than  ever  before.  And  while  church- 
work  differs  from  what  it  formerly  was,  there  is  as 
much  need  of  it  as  ever,  and  it  is  as  vital  as  ever 
that  it  should  be  of  a  style  and  quality  to  lit  immortal 
souls  for  the  life  that  now  is  and  for  that  which  is  to 
come.  It  still  is  possible  for  us  to  help  to  shape  the 
destiny  of  our  nation  and  of  mankind,  fully  as  much 
as  did  our  fathers  in  whom  we  glory,  if  we  are  only 
as  faithful  as  they  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and 
as  loyal  to  the  trust  the  Master  has  committed  to 
our  hands. 

We  honor  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  New- 
buryport  for  its  noble   history;  and  we    may  well  do 

69 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

so.  But  this  historical  occasion  will  surely  fail  of  its 
highest  and  grandest  end,  unless  it  shall  quicken  the 
heart-beats  of  those  whose  history  is  yet  to  be  made. 
We  stand  at  this  hour  on  an  eminence  whence  we 
can  survey  the  future  as  well  as  the  past.  Let  us 
turn  toward  it  with  a  mighty  courage  and  brave 
resolve.  We  glory  in  the  fathers;  and  may  we  live 
so  well  that  our  children  may  glory  in  us  when  they 
come  to  celebrate,  as  we  hope  they  may  do,  the  two 
hundredth  anniversary  of  this  beloved  church. 

I  have  not  sought  to  make  this  altogether  a  denomi- 
national address;  being  aware  that  we  have  with  us 
as  guests  those  representing  every  denomination  ex- 
isting here.  But  allow  me,  in  conclusion,  to  remind 
those  most  deeply  concerned  in  this  anniversary,  that 
we  stand  for  an  idea  which  our  church  has  tested  for 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  We  are  eminently 
American  Presbyterians.  We  are  not  Genevans,  nor 
Huguenots,  nor  English,  nor  Scotch,  nor  Scotch-Irish ; 
we  are  Americans,  who  hold  that  the  power  is  with 
the  Lord's  people,  and  that  it  ma)"  rise  from  them  to 
the  higher  and  representative  courts,  such  as  the 
Presbytery,  the  Synod,  and  the  General  Assembly. 
Ours  is  neither  an  irresponsible  independency,  nor  a 
lordly  hierarchy.  The  fathers,  at  great  cost,  shook 
off  the  foreign  yoke;    let  us   never   put   it   on   again. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

And  we  have  as  much  right  as  any  others  to  lay 
aside  the  clumsy  armor  of  the  ancient  champions  of 
our  cause,  and  to  tight  for  it  with  the  keenest  modern 
weapons  of  truth.  We  are  conservative,  yet  not  in- 
flexible; we  cling  to  our  standard,  yet  would  fain 
lift  it  higher  into  the  light  of  God. 

Our  Calvinism  is  modified  from  what  was  taught 
three  centuries  ago  at  Geneva  and  Edinburgh;  yet  its 
keynote  is  as  clear  as  ever— the  absolute  sovereignty 
of  God  in  harmony  with  the  freedom  of  man.     We 
believe  as  firmly  as  did  the  fathers  that  the  righteous 
and   merciful   purposes  of  the  Triune   God  are  "yea 
and  amen,  in  Christ  Jesus."     Ours  is  a  church  mili- 
tant when  its  heritage  is  assailed;  but  none  excel   it 
in  practical  humanitarian  enterprises,  nor  in  a  gener- 
ous   support  of    educational  and  reformatory  work. 
No    church    has    done    more   for  civil  and  religious 
liberty.     We  seek  to  hold  all  truth,   not  harshly  and 
rigidly,  but  wisely  and  tenderly,  mindful  of  the  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

That  is  the  master-thought  underlying  the  histori- 
cal facts  given  today.  Our  fathers  wrought,  and  we 
work,  for  this  congregation,  as  a  part  of  that  universal 
Church  of  Christ,  which  transcends  all  sectarian 
limitations,  and  which  is  the  true  Kingdom  of  God. 
We  work  and  worship,  toil  and  pray,  "looking  for 

71 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

that  blessed   hope,  and  the  glorious  appearing  of  the 
great  God  and   our  Savior  Jesus   Christ. ', 

"Amen:    even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus.      The  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  ivith  you   all.     Amen. 


V^uTtuj^   lyyuis>or 


1850-1863 


"Retracing    the     Old    Paths:' 


REMINISCENCES 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


BY    A    FORMER    PASTOR, 


REV.  ASHBEL  G.  VERMILYE,  D.  I)., 


OF    ENGLEWOOD,    N    J. 


ADDRESS  OF  REV.  ASHBEL  G.  VERMILYE,  D.  D. 


This  is  now  the  third  time  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  take  part  in  a  jubilee  of  this  church.     The  first 
time  in  1856,  the  centennial  year  of  the  building  of 
the    church;  when    I     was    myself    the    pastor    and 
preached  an  historical  sermon  from  the  text:   aWbo 
is   left   among   you  that  saw  this  house  in   her  first 
glory  ?"     It  covered  many  points  of  interest  relating 
to  the  past,  not  included  in  previous  printed  histories. 
Behind  me  in  the  pulpit,  were  Rev.  Dr.  Dana,  settled 
in  1794;  Rev.  Dr.  Proudfit,  settled  in  1827;  and  my 
immediate  predecessor,  Rev.  Dr.   Stearns,  settled  in 
1835 — all  the  pastors  since    1794,   except  Rev.   Mr. 
Williams,  settled  in  182 1.     Today  they  are  not  living; 
and  of  my  successors  in  the  pastorate  previous  to  1889, 
none  are  living.     Of  all  who  have  here  ministered,  up 
to  that  recent  date,  I  alone  remain;  and  I  was   settled 
in   1850.     Moreover,  of  the  town  ministers,  the  pas- 
tors in  1856,  none  now  lives  except  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske— 
my  senior  in  settlement  by  two  or  more  years. 


75 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

The  second  occasion  alluded  to,  was  in  1870 — the 
kk  centennial  commemoration  of  the  death  of  White- 
field."  Rev.  Dr.  Stearns  was  the  preacher,  to  a  large 
assembly.  None  could  have  done  it  better.  He 
understood  Whitefield  and  his  times,  and  had  the  gift 
of  narrative  portraiture  in  an  easy  and  attractive  style. 
It  was  throughout  a  fine  celebration.  And  now 
today,  during  two  days  crowded  with  oratory  and 
interest,  another — to  me,  the  third!  And  surely  it  is 
well  to  have  it,  well  to  recall  and  keep  alive,  among 
those  who  are  coming  after,  by  sermon  and  reminis- 
cence the  story  of  the  past;  and  thus  to  instruct  their 
faith  and  continue  their  attachment  to  the  old  church. 
It  is  one  around  which  clings,  like  an  entwining  vine, 
a  special  interest  of  very  many  people.  You  that 
live  here  scarcely  know  the  estimation  in  which  it  is 
held.  During  my  ministry  the  whole  Methodist 
Conference  (at  the  time  in  session  in  town)  went 
down  to  see  the  bones  of  Whitefield;  and  then, 
before  the  pulpit,  discussed  Whitefield  and  Weslev! 
Visitors  came,  even  from  Europe;  and  one  visitor 
(though  at  an  earlier  period,)  as  a  precious  and  prized 
relic,  actually  stole  a  part  of  Whitefleld's  arm!  It 
took  nearly  thirty  years,  till  1849,  for  his  conscience 
to  get  him  to  the  point  of  returning  that  silent  bone, 
which  in  life  had  helped   to  awaken   and   reclaim   so 

76 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

many  sinners.     When  my  own  sermon,  the  addresses 
and  proceedings  were  published,  one  bookseller  in 
Philadelphia  wrote  for  two  hundred  copies,  and  I  had 
none  to  send.     I  may  here  say,  that  three  histories  of 
the  church  have  hitherto  been  published,  of  which 
two,  by  Rev.  Mr.   Williams  and  Dr.   Stearns,  were 
previous   to   my   own;  both   of   them    so   well   done 
and  apparently  so  exhaustive,  that  when  required  to 
provide  a  third,  it  seemed  to  me  impossible.     Where 
should  I  glean  the  grain  that  had  not  already  been 
gathered  into  their  barns?      Fortunately  the  church 
was  under  repair,  to  become   what  it  at  present  is, 
outside  and  in;   we  were  worshipping  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Campbell  and  his  people,  in   Prospect    street;  I  had 
four  months.     From  old  people,  in  old  garrets,  from 
Dr.  Withington,  Dr.  Dana,  and  other  fruitful  sources, 
I  gleaned  and  found  the  yield  of  incident  and   event 
plentiful.     You  should  have  seen  Mrs.  Lucy    Pear- 
son, then   in   her  ninety-eighth  year,  bedridden  and 
almost  blind— the  only  one  who  had  heard  Whiteneld; 
who,  when  sixteen,  had  walked  with  her  mother  from 
Rowley  to  Exeter  to  hear  him;   how  her  voice  grew 
shrill  and  her  thin  frame  almost  tossed   with  excite- 
ment, as  she  described  his  preaching  and  its  power! 
What    must    it    have    been,    when,  after  eighty-two 
years  the  recollection  of  it  was  so  vivid,  so  exciting? 

77 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

That  voice,  how  it  still  seemed  to  linger  in  her  ears — 
as  "the  seashell  of  its   native  deep  a  thrilling  moan 
retains;"  a  voice  capable  of  all  the  inflexions  of  the 
sea,  as  it  talks  in  storm  tones  or  in  ripples  with  the 
shore;   behind  which,  and  pressing  for  delivery,  were 
thought  and  feelings  grandly  or  gently  moving,  vari- 
able   as    the    shifting   winds,    weighty    as  the  tides! 
Was  this   the   same    man   whom  one   citizen  of  the 
town  described  as  a  "cheery,  a  very  cheery  old  gen- 
tleman;"  and  whom   he  had  heard  "joking   mother 
Parsons  (the  minister's  wife)  about  her  old  cap  ?"   Yes 
certainly;  a  preacher  genial,  loving,  open  to  the  little 
playful    incidents  and  things  of  life.     The  spirit  of 
the  gospel  was  in  him,  "the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."     Yet  when  delivering  his  message  of  truth; 
truth  so  vital,  for  time  and  eternity,  to  the  thousands 
of    souls    before    him;    there    was    no    levity    about 
Whitefield.      He  was  then  the  electric   storm   in   its 
passage  over  the  surface   of  nature — with  vivid   dis- 
charges and  rolling  thunders  and  falling  rain;   which 
when  past,  leaves  behind  it  a  "great  awakening,"  a 
great  "revival"  and  "  refreshing,"  even  for  "the  dear 
little  birds" — so  he  called  children.     No  wonder  he 
was     remembered     and     his     memory      reverenced, 
this   greatest   of  pulpit   orators,  as    he    was   by   Mrs. 
Pearson ! 

7* 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  years  have  now  passed  since 
the  organization  of  this  church.     The  old  oaken  frame- 
work of  the  building,  one  hundred  and  forty  years 
old— of  wood  cut  upon  their  own  farms — still  remains, 
sound  and  intact.     "Good  times"  they  had  even  be- 
fore the  completion  of  the  building— when  they  u  sat 
on  the  joiners  benches  and  Mr.  Whitefield  preached." 
And  still  the  inviting  history  was   not  exhausted  by 
Mr.  Williams,  Dr.  Stearns  and  myself,  as  your  pastor 
(Dr.  Hovey's)    admirable   sermon  has  proved.     My 
own   part  is   now   the  somewhat  lighter  vein  of  pas- 
toral reminiscences,  memories,   supplementary  frag- 
ments.    Nevertheless,  it   has   for   me  an    undertone; 
since  I  stand  here,  except  the  most  recent,  a  solitary 
survivor  in  the  line  of  pastors,  and  go  back  to  a  min- 
istry  which  began  forty-six  and  ended  thirty-three 

years  ago. 

I  may  say,  I  suppose,  how  quaint  looking  was  to 
me  the  place,  when  I  first  entered  it.  It  had  not  yet 
changed  much  from  the  past.  Too  far  from  the  city 
to  be  really  suburban,  it  sat  beside  its  beautiful  river, 
close  to  the  sea,  a  town  waiting  for  a  turn  ol  the  tide. 
A  quiet,  very  quiet  place,  partly  because  so  many 
still  went  to  sea  and  did  "business  in  great  waters:1 
This  congregation  itself  had  in  it  many  who  either 
were  or  had  been  sea  captains— an  unusual   number. 

79 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

One  could  not  have  wished  better  friends  or  parish- 
ioners; except  that  they  came  and  went  and  sometimes 
made    long   voyages,   the   younger   ones,    whilst   the 
wives  brought  up  the  families.     The  town  therefore, 
was  one  of  residences,  notably  domestic  and  quiet. 
And  quaint,  also,  of  an  old-fashioned  type,    looked 
the  older  ministers —Dr.  Withington,  Dr.   Dana,  Dr. 
Dimmick,   Mr.    Campbell    and    others    around.     Dr. 
Withington,  with  his  beautiful  genuineness,  simplicity 
and  kindliness  of  character  and  intercourse;   whose 
thinking,  on   other  subjects  so  keen  and  observant, 
did  not  take  in  the  niceties  of  dress  and   fashion  and 
mere    appearances!      Poet,    philosopher,  scholar — in 
learning  how  various  and  ready!     To   meet  him  on 
the  street  under  an  umbrella,  was  to  gain  a  thought 
and   be    mentally    so    much    richer!      But    it    would 
never    have  done  to  transplant  him,  he  had  grown 
into  the  very  soil  of  "Ould  Newbury."      It  was  good 
and  wise  advice  he  gave  his  successor,  at  his  instal- 
lation;  uyou  must  not  only  know  human   nature   but 
Oldtown  nature."     That,   he   himself  did,  and  there 
for  a  lifetime,  studied,  meditated,  philosophized,  and 
wrote    many    beautiful,   many   characteristic    things. 
His  Thanksgiving   sermon,    entitled  "  A  bundle    of 
myrrh,"  (  1850)  was  like  him,  and  a  sensation — where- 
in he  showed,  by  historic  example,  why  men,  philoso- 

80 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

phies,  political  parties,  even  religious  systems,  had  so 
often  failed;  they  were  not  a  u  bundle  of  myrrh,"  only 
some  sprigs  of  it,  tied  up  with  "  wormwood,  pigweed, 
garlic  and  other  nauseous  herbs!"  On  the  back  of  it 
was  a  '"form  of  prayer,  for  such  Christians  as  mean 
to  aid  in  executing  the  fugitive  slave  law."  But,  in 
another  style,  what  a  delightful  argument  for  a  special 
Providence  did  he  draw  from  a  bird's  nest  in  the 
grass,  with  feeding  cattle  all  around,  yet  not  destroyed 
nor  disturbed! 

This  was  in  my  day,  as  before  it,  a  large  con- 
gregation, with  full  galleries;  of  well-to-do  people, 
solid,  excellent  families,  who  made  the  church 
strong — not  wealthy  as  wealth  is  now  computed. 
And  besides,  there  were  many  poor,  with  among 
them  men  and  women  of  faith  and  prayer  and  every 
day  usefulness.  As  one  such,  what  a  woman  was 
Miss  Mary  C.  Greenleaf;  who,  with  an  aged  and  blind 
and  deaf  mother  to  care  for,  and  the  necessity  of 
work,  could  always  find  time  to  be  useful;  who,  her- 
self without  means,  could  take  the  refusal  of  a  par- 
sonage house,  when  it  was  needed,  and  by  her 
efficient  zeal  get  the  money;  and  who,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six,  rounded  out  her  self-denying  labors  by  be- 
coming a  missionary  to  the  Indians!  And  that 
mother — a  woman  of  faith  and    prayer;  who  ceased 

S  i 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

not  to  pray  in  the  temple  for  others  around  her  dur- 
ing- the  sermon;  who  till  her  death,  "a  widow  of 
about  four  score  and  four  years,"  efficiently  helped  to 
sustain  the  mission  to  the  Isles  of  Shoals;  who  had 
faith  in  prayer  from  man)'  experiences.  Once,  when 
in  immediate  need  of  forty-five  dollars  for  the  Mission, 
she  confidently  made  it  a  matter  of  prayer;  and  be- 
fore the  day  was  out,  Rev.  Dr.  Dimmick  came  in  and 
handed  her  the  money.  Forsooth,  however,  you 
might  even  here  and  there  have  found  some  Christ- 
ians of  a  different  sort;  not  so  helpful  to  a  pastor  nor 
so  pleasant,  with  more  human  nature  than  grace. 
You  have  doubtless  heard  Rev.  Mr.  Milton's  remark 
about  one  of  his  own  members:  "The  crookedest 
stick  that  ever  grew  on  Mount  Zion!"  Zion  some- 
times grows  among  its  slopes  strange  timber;  scrubby 
oaks  and  the  prickly  pear,  as  well  as  the  straighter 
and  statelier  trees.  Perhaps  their  nature  has  in  it 
more  for  grace  to  contend  with.  But  I  learned  here 
a  useful  lesson  for  a  pastor.  It  is  not  well  to  be  too 
easily  or  quickly  offended.  Plain  people  do  not  var- 
nish words,  and  a  chestnut  burr  may  contain  what  is 
sound  and  good.  It  was  not  pleasant,  I  suppose,  for 
Rev.  Mr.  Williams  to  be  told  that  "if  he  chose  to  live 
in  Oldtown  he  might  go  there  to  meeting!"  Never- 
theless, it  was  kindly  meant.     They  liked  to  see  their 

82 


JOHN    PROUDFIT, 
1827-1833. 


JONATHAN    F.  STEARNS, 
1  835-1  849. 


RICHARD    H.    RICHARDSON, 
1  864-1  868. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

minister  and  have  him  near — not  far  away,  in  another 
parish.  It  was  a  peculiar  prayer,  no  doubt,  uttered 
during  a  vacancy  (in  a  neighboring  church)  by  a  man 
slow  of  speech  and  ideas,  but  I  can  see  the  glimmer 
of  a  meaning;  that  the  Lord  would  send  them  ''a 
man  after  his  own  heart,  made  without  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens  I''  One  who  should  be  divinely  qual- 
ified to  remain  with  them  always — that  was  certainly 
here,  with  many,  their  idea  of  a  proper  pastoral  union. 
Yet  one  "made  without  hands;"  such  an  one  would 
never  have  suited,  for  they  loved  to  shake  hands. 
All  among  them  had  not  bright  homes.  There  were 
the  "shut  ins,"  the  sick,  afflicted  and  poor,  the 
troubled  in  various  ways;  and  they  loved  and  needed 
the  grasp  that  indicated  nearness,  sympathy  and  help- 
fulness— a  personal  relation  to  the  pastor.  Alas,  also, 
among  other  troubles  there  was  the  sea,  the  treacher- 
ous sea,  in  some  aspects  so  beautiful  and  then  again 
such  a  bringer  of  sorrow;  and  the  telegram  or  letter 
which  the  pastor  must  deliver.  It  is  my  belief  that 
a  preacher  cannot  preach  to  real  purpose,  who  has 
not,  also,  been  a  pastor;  who  has  not  come  near  to 
people,  entered  their  chambers  or  their  minds,  in  the 
serious  moments  of  life.  He  may  hold  an  audience 
and  impress  their  minds.  It  is  a  fine  thing  to  do  so. 
But  the  great  congregation  goes  home,  away  from 

S3 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

his  influence.  And  only  as  a  pastor  can  he  learn,  and 
like  a  skilful  physician  learn,  how  to  treat  the  various 
individual  doubts,  difficulties  and  perturbations,  which 
the  homely  talk  and  the  more  serious  moments  may 
reveal  to  him.  I  learned  here,  in  some  degree,  how 
to  handle  my  doctrine.  And  I  must  say  that,  as  a 
people,  they  wanted  and  expected  doctrine;  that  is  to 
say,  Bible  truth,  God's  word,  the  Gospel — something 
to  inform,  something  for  the  conscience,  something 
that  was  really  water  and  food  for  the  soul.  Sermons, 
such  as  those  of  one  who  once  preached  for  me 
would  not  have  been  long  endured — who  said,  he 
"  always  thought  it  well  (among  other  things)  to  have 
a  little  religion  in  a  sermon!"  An  earlier  member 
expressed  it,  after  a  sermon  by  a  young  man,  as  he 
went  grumbling  down  the  aisle:  "Peas  in  a  bladder, 
peas  in  a  bladder,  no  food  for  my  soul  today!"  His 
words  wrought  better  than  he  could  have  imagined. 
The  young  minister  overheard  him.  They  were  a 
sharp  rap  to  his  conscience.  Years  after  he  returned 
and  inquired  for  him,  saying:  "He  saved  my  soul,  he 
was  the  means  of  my  conversion!"  But  the  good 
man  was  dead.* 

Good,  sturdy  old  people!     The  spirit  of  the  earlier 
members,  from  whom   many  among  them  were  de- 

kThe  minister  w:is  Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  of  Boston,  the  other  Major  Goodwin. 

*4 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

scended,   had  not  died  out  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
Among   the    number   I    may   mention   Deacon    (and 
Elder)  Ezra  Lunt,  "  an  Israelite  indeed ;"  whose  dying- 
words  to  me  were:  "I  have  been  trying  to  form  an  ob- 
jection in  my  own  mind  against  my  acceptance   with 
Christ;  but  he  has  been  with  me  forty  years  and  will 
not  leave  me  now.     Some  used  to   think  me  too  rigid ; 
but  I  could  not  conscientiously  be  otherwise.     I  have 
endeavored  to  follow  the  Puritan  fathers,  so  far  as 
they  followed  Christ."      Such  was  the  tone  and  type 
of  his  piety;  with  none  of  that  self-surgery,  that  ana- 
lytical dissection  even  of  motives,  which  character- 
ized Dr.  Spring  and  many  good  people  who  had  been 
trained  under  his  teachings;  but  an  abiding  hope  and 
trust  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  thoroughly  consistent  and 
godly  life.     At  the  close,  he   was   like   a   fisherman 
who  has  been  out  all  day  at  his  calling  whether  the 
waters  were  rough  or  smooth;  who  at  night  returns, 
calmly  and  fearlessly  shoots  the  breakers  that  line 
his  way  to  the  shore,  and  there  at  length  unships  his 
mast,  brings  forth  his  anchor,  and  with  the  fruit  of 
his  toil  in  hand  goes  quietly,  peacefully,  happily,  to 
his    home     and   his   rest.     And   there    were    others, 
men  and  women,  like  Deacon  Lunt. 

From  the  very  beginning  and  till  1887,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-one  years,  the  Harrod  family  had  a  pew  in 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

this  church.     The  last  to  go  was  Miss  Phoebe  Harrod, 
in  her  one   hundred  and  second  year.     But  when   I 
came  there  were  (I  think)    ten  brothers  and  sisters, 
already  beyond  the   prime    of   years.     Yet    what    a 
household  group!      How  staunch,  helpful,  and  widely 
useful — especially  in  all  out  of  door  activities,   Mrs. 
Harriet  Sanborn,  the  widowed  sister!      In  their  piety 
how  genuine,  how  consistent — a  walk  with  God!      In 
her  ninetieth  year,  it  was  the  habit  of  one   sister  to 
pass  sleepless  nights  in  repeating  to   herself  the  one 
hundred    and    nineteenth   Psalm.      She   had   it  all   in 
memory.     And  as  she  reached  the  successive   divis- 
ions  of   the    Psalm,  there   she  would  pause  a  little. 
That  or  that,  perhaps,  might  prove  the  looked  for  end, 
with  no  farther  to  go!      These  divisions  she   called 
her  "stepping-stones  over  Jordan."     In  its  repose   of 
mind    and    assurance    of  salvation    through     Christ, 
what   a   beautiful  awaiting!      So  have   I   seen  ships, 
after  their  voyage  quietly  awaiting  outside  the   make 
ot   the  tide  which  should  pass  them  over  the  bar  into 
their    desired    haven.      Nor  was   the    Harrod  family 
alone  in  the  things  mentioned.      That  of  Elder  Moses 
Pettingell  had,  also,  come  down  in  steady  succession 
from  the  beginning — himself  a  useful  and   prominent 
man.      And  among  them  how  many  lived  to  be   old! 
I  well  remember  (me  who,  at  eighty-live,  was  having 

So 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

her  thirteenth  fever,  and— "weakly  to  begin  with!" 
On  one  page  of  the  list  (a  single  year)  there  were 
twenty-seven  deaths  recorded;  of  which  number  one- 
half  were  over  seventy,  four  of  them  over  eighty, 
two  of  them  over  ninety!  Air.  George  Donnell  lived 
to  be  ninety-nine  and  three  months.  But  I  return — 
and  it  saddens  my  return— to  find  them  gone;  Cap- 
tain Simpson,  Mr.  Caldwell,  Elder  Plummer,  Air. 
Petti ngell,  Mr.  Pritchard,  the  Brays,  Caleb  Cushing, 
Captain  Graves,  Mr.  Boardman,  and  many  more 
whom  I  could  name;  gone,  a  congregation  of  the 
dead.  Till  I  left,  the  average  death  rate  was  (I  think ) 
about  seventeen;  but  the  next  year  and  the  next  (of 
Dr.  Richardson's  ministry)  the  number  went  up  to 
thirty-one  or  thirty-two. 

I  would  like  now  briefly  to  advert  to  the  times 
preceding  my  own  day.  Of  course  there  had  been 
changes.  The  interior  of  the  building  itself,  as  you 
know,  had  been  altered  in  1829.  It  made  that  re- 
markable "whispering  gallery;"  so  perfect,  that 
when  everything  was  still  I  have  heard  a  watch  tick- 
in  a  corner  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  away.  It  was, 
also,  a  sort  of  private  detective;  as  the  sexton  would 
sometimes  inform  misbehaving  boys  in  the  opposite 
o-allerv,  by  putting  his  hand  behind  his  ear  and  point- 
ing  to  the  pulpit.     But  let  me  speak  a  little  of  the  pas- 

S7 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

tors.  Mr.  Parsons!  Dr.  Hovey,  however,  has  included 
him  in  his  sketch,  as  have  the  other  histories.  Poor 
man,  what  troubles  he  went  through,  a  real  persecu- 
tion, on  the  church's  account!  And  in  addition,  there 
was  his  weakness  for  fine  clothes,  with  gold  and 
silver  lace  and  ruffled  shirt  fronts — to  the  great  dis- 
tress  of  some  people!  We  can  imagine  what  they 
said.  Ministers,  in  that  day,  were  expected  to  ap- 
pear in  clerical  hat,  wig,  regulation  clothes,  and  with 
professional  dignity,  prim  and  sombre.  I  do  not 
wonder  that  his  naturally  quick  temper  sometimes 
gave  way.  Yet,  good  man  that  he  was,  he  was  just 
as  quick  to  confess  and  amend  his  fault.  So  once, 
after  a  not  pleasant  scene  with  a  man,  he  returned 
and  said:  "Have  you  seen  Mr.  Parsons  this  morning?" 
"Why,  yes,"  (he  replied)  "you  were  here  an  hour 
ago."  "No,"  (answered  Mr.  P.)  "that  was  not  Mr. 
Parsons,  it  was  the  Devil!  "  Murray!  The  popular 
orator,  the  most  so  of  all.  Like  Parsons,  a  patriot 
who  did  good  service;  one,  however,  of  wider  note, 
for  whose  capture,  when  at  Boothbay,  the  British 
Commodore  offered  £500  reward — an  unusual  sum. 
And  I  may  here  speak  of  it,  their  patriotism,  to  the 
credit  of  nearly  all  the  clergy  here  and  elsewhere. 
Enough  has  not  been  made  of  it.  Behind  the  states- 
men, in  every  parish,  were  the   clergy  moulding  the 

SS 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

sentiments  of  the  people,  long  before  the  war.     Of 
Murray's    oratorical  power  I   have  elsewhere   noted 
not  a  few  instances.     But  one  of  his  greatest  triumphs, 
I  should  say,  was  when  he  preached  an  hour  and   a 
half  or  two  hours,  and  held  the  people,  on  so  abstruse 
a  subject  as   "The  origin  of  evil!"     Moreover,   they 
insisted  on  having  it  published!    New  England  in  his 
day,  it  should  be  remembered,  was  a   theological  and 
controversial    battle    ground.     On    every    hand    you 
would  hear  the  shots  of  opposing  batteries.     In  this 
town  was  especially  Dr.  Spring,  a  zealous  Hopkinsian, 
who  crave  and  took.     And  the  people  liked  it.     New 
England    wits   were  ground  line   and  keen   on  such 
problems;  and  it  was  a  pleasure,  all  around,  to  take 
one  another  in  hand  for  a  clean  shave.     My  own  copy 
of  that  sermon  is  annotated  throughout  by  some  one, 
cleric    or    layman    I    know   not,  who  set  himself  to 
riddle  the  argument.     I  suppose  he  did  it,  I  have  only 
been  able  to  make  out  the  word  u  nonentity." 

After  Mr.  Murray  came  Dr.  Dana— a  placid  stream 
compared  with  the  former;  clear,  Addisonian  in  style 
and  statement,  he  attained  no  such  flights  of  oratory. 
Yet  was  he  a  faithful,  affectionate,  helpful  pastor 
and  preacher,  with  that  courteous  and  graceful, 
almost  appealing,  motion  of  the  head  and  wave  of 
the  right  hand  which  some  may  still  remember;  and 

89 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

with  which — so  habitual  was  it  with  him — he  once  at 
night,  in  later  years,  showed  a  burglar  to  the  front 
door.  Suave  as  he  was,  however,  Dr.  Dana  stood 
firmly  enough  for  the  olden  truth  amid  the  clashings 
and  defections  of  his  day.  He  had  occasion  to  do 
so  even  in  this  town,  where  of  six  ministers  no  two 
held  exactly  the  same  theology.  Dr.  Spring,  es- 
pecially, was  an  aggressive  theologian.  Dr.  Hawes 
(of  Hartford)  preached  his  first  sermon  for  Dr. 
Dana.  He  took  exceptions  in  a  kindly  way,  to  its 
doctrinal  statements.  When  Dr.  Spring  heard  about 
it,  he  was  delighted.  "Now  (he  said)  you  make  two 
of  that  sermon.  Next  Sunday  I  have  the  Union  lec- 
ture in  the  evening" — at  which,  of  course,  Dr.  Dana 
would  be  present.  uYou  shall  preach  half  in  the 
morning  and  the  other  in  the  evening !"  But  in  1815 
there  came  a  happy  occasion  when  such  differences 
were  forgotten.  It  was  the  ordination  of  the  second 
band  of  missionaries  in  this  church.  Then  for  the 
first  time  in  New  England  and  probably  in  the  country, 
the  Lord's  supper  was  celebrated  together  by  nearly 
seven  hundred  communicants,  from  various  and 
distant  churches.  It  was  the  proper  church  for  it; 
here,  the  burial  place  of  Whitefield,  who  had  himself 
crossed     the      ocean     thirteen    times     on     a     Gospel 


90 


CHARLES   S.    DURFEE, 
1869-1872. 


WILLIAM    W.    NEWELL,  Jr., 
1874-1880. 


CHARLES  C.  WALLACE, 
1881—1888. 


BREVARD   D.   SINCLAIR, 
1889—1892. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

missionary   errand.     And    its   kindly,  Christian  spirit 
was  in  full  accord  with  that  of  Dr.  Dana. 

After  a  season  of  steady  productiveness,  churches 
may  need  the  plough ;  and  a  plough  was  Mr.  Williams. 
Different  from  Dr.  Dana,  a  more  striking  man,  with 
peculiarities;    a    fine    orator,    but    less    tender    and 
sympathetic;  a  blunt,  straight  out,  independent  man 
in  word  and  deed— genuine  to  the  core.     A  brief  but 
impressive  ministry,  only  five  years,  and  useful  to  the 
church;  and  then   he   died,  his   sun   went   down  too 
early.     It  brings  me  to   Dr.  Proudrlt;  and  again  to  a 
five  years  pastorate  interrupted  at   a  most  important 
time,  in  183 1,  by  ill  health  and   an  absence  of  seven 
months.     Nevertheless,  his  was  an  honored  and  long 
an    affectionately    remembered  name  in  this    place. 
Tallest   of  the   whole    clerical   line,  Saul  among  the 
people,  with  a  fine,  grave  and  thoughtful  face,  he  bore 
a   presence  in  itself  noticeable;  whilst  in  preaching, 
the    intellect    and    culture    and    eminent    spirituality 
which  enriched   his   sermons,  commanded   attention, 
though  his  throat  and  voice  were  weak  for  so  large  a 
building.     Yet  even  more  was  his  great  success  as  a 
spiritual    worker    due    to    his  tact    and    affectionate 
faithfulness  in  the  house  and  by  the  way.     It  was  a 
ministry,  however,  during  which,  that  is,  during  and 
owing  to  his  enforced  absence  in  183 1,  some  strange 

91 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

scenes  occurred.  During  that  time  this  pulpit  was 
supplied  chiefly  by  Rev.  George  B.  Cheever,  an 
Andover  graduate.  It  was  the  beginning  of  his 
ministry,  and  not  a  happy  beginning.  There  was,  at 
the  time  an  extensive  revival  in  town.  For  the  year 
1 83 1,  one  hundred  united  with  this  church  alone,  as 
professed  converts.  Of  these  some  (with  others 
outside,)  gathered  about  Mr.  Cheever — in  his  youth, 
enthusiastic,  and  with  those  qualities  which  afterwards 
distinguished  him;  the  author,  at  Salem,  a  little  later, 
of  the  tract  "Deacon  Giles'  Distillery,"  for  which  he 
was  tried  and  imprisoned.  By  these  disturbers  the 
pastor  was  undermined,  and  an  effort  made  to  dis- 
place him.  It  failed,  however;  since  the  Session  and 
the  main  body  of  the  people  stood  firmly  and  strongly 
with  and  for  the  pastor.  Mr.  Cheever  would  not 
consent  to  preach  in  a  hall,  and  so  his  ministry  in 
Newburyport  ended.  I  knew  him,  after  the  turmoils 
of  his  active  life,  as  a  neighbor — sweet  and  gentle, 
former  conflicts  apparently  forgotten,  the  fire  of  the 
war  horse  subdued  within  him,  the  Bible  and  its 
precious  truths  his  chief  study  and  delight.  It  was 
at  this  time,  I  think,  that  he  received  a  letter  from  the 
son  of  the  actual  "Deacon  Giles, "'  in  which  he  re- 
ferred to  that  tract  as  the  means  of  his  own  conver- 
f 


sion 


92 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Dr.  Stearns  was  my  own  predecessor.     How  sweet 
and   mellow  his  voice,  how  youthful  always,  almost 
feminine  the  face,  as   for  fourteen   years  he  stood  in 
this  place,  a  scholarly,  clear  and  effective  preacher! 
A  man  of  tact  and  sound  discretion,  as  well  as  sweet- 
ness of  spirit,  how   easily  he   made  himself  beloved! 
Yet  withal,  when    necessary,  no    one  could  be  more 
firm  and  outspoken.     And  by  his  side,  also,  to  his 
great   advantage,  was   one  whom   the  parish  equally 
loved— a  brilliant,  gifted  and    attractive   woman,  the 
sister  of  the  great  Western  orator,  Sargent  S.  Prentice. 
His  was  a  peaceful  ministry,  during  which  would-be 
troublers  (and  there  were  such)  remained  prudently 
quiet.     And   so   I   come   back   to   my   own   ministry. 
At  its  close,  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  said  to  me:  "When 
I   first   saw  you  on   the  street,  I   thought  to   myself, 
young  man  you  have  made  a  mistake  this  time.     You 
had   some   ugly  opponents   to  deal   with.      But  your 
ministry    has  been  to  me  an    instance  of  a    special 
Providence:,     So    I    considered    it,    and    gratefully. 
Some    of  them  had  waited  their    opportunity    since 
Mr.    Cheever's    day.     It    was    a  special   Providence 
when,   after  my  coming,  they   left    the   church    and 
made  room  for  others.     Nor  had  I  ever  reason  to  re- 
gret my  coming;  they  were  my  people,  my  friends, 
to  the  last.      I  left  the   church  undiminished  in    num- 

9  3 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

bers,  at  peace,  and  prosperous.  My  only  regret  was 
at  the  parting,  to  take  a  more  inland  charge  at  Utica, 
New  York. 

This  address  has  been  simply  (as  I  proposed) 
reminiscent  and  fragmentary.  I  could  have  written 
more,  much  more,  about  man)'  things;  they  have 
come  into  view  from  out  the  past,  as  birds  appear 
out  of  the  sky  or  the  fog  and  drop  upon  the  meadows. 
But  this  is  the  closing  evening,  and  your  pastors 
history  has,  by  right,  the  chief  historical  place.  To 
my  successors  I  have  not  referred,  because  my 
knowledge  of  them  has  been  slight.  Of  Dr.  Rich- 
ardson, who  came  after  me,  I  know  that  he  was  a 
scholar  and  admired  as  a  man  and  a  preacher  of  strik- 
ing gifts.  The  names  of  the  rest  are  upon  yonder 
tablet.  All  but  two  of  them  have  made  up  their 
record  on  earth  and  gone  to  their  reward.  Bye  and 
bye,  some  one  will  resume  the  story  where  we  now 
leave  it,  and  they  will  be  remembered  and  the 
later  history  written.  I  have  but  one  thing  to  add, 
since  it  connects  itself  with  that  new  and  elegant 
tablet,  and  connects  the  past  with  the  present. 
During  my  first  sermon  in  this  pulpit,  there  sat  in  the 
side  aisle,  facing  Whitefield's  monument,  a  young- 
man  some  few  years  younger  than  myself.  The  ser- 
mon   impressed    him,  and   not  long  after  he   united 

94 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

with  the  church.  That  was  in  our  youth,  forty-six 
years  ago.  Today  again  I  am  in  the  pulpit,  he 
in  the  pew.  He  is  the  donor  of  that  me- 
morial tablet.  It  is  a  long  interval.  I  have  known 
him  through  it  all — in  trials  that  have  tested  his  man- 
hood and  his  piety;  as  I  also  knew  the  one  who  was 
with  him  through  all,  so  active  and  beloved  in  this 
church,  his  latest  and  greatest  loss,  the  ever  present 
memory  of  whom,  really  suggested  the  tablet.  But 
in  looking  forward — the  young  preacher  and  hearer, 
then  for  the  first  time  brought  into  touch — how  little 
could  we  have  surmised  the  future  up  till  today; 
what  it  would  be  to  us  or  for  us — what  it  would 
enable  us  to  be  or  to  do?  How  little  they  that  start 
out  in  the  morning  for  a  day's  sail,  know  what  may 
come  down  upon  them  before  it  is  ended — the  chill 
of  the  wind,  the  enveloping  fog,  or  even  worse!  In 
185  i  (I  think)  I  was  out  sailing  with  a  merry  party, 
when  a  dense  fog  settled  down  upon  us.  We  lost 
our  way  entirely,  till  one  went  aloft  and  looked  over 
the  fog.  Speaking  of  such  things  in  life,  my  Elder 
Pritchard — a  man  of  excellent  mind  and  thought — 
once  said  in  our  prayer  meeting:  "We  must  go  aloft 
and  look  over  the  fog;"  a  simile  out  of  his  own  pro- 
fession as  a  rigger  of  ships — and  it  all  came  vividly 
back.      I  had  seen  it  done;   and  have  used  it  since  as 

9  5 


THE 


ANNIVERSARY   PROCEEDINGS 


WITH     THE 


Program,  Addresses  and  Correspondence. 


Previous  to  the  time  fixed  for  the  celebration  of 
our  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary,  an  invita- 
tion was  publicly  given  to  every  congregation  in  the 
city,  as  well  as  to  every  man,  woman  and  child  in 
our  own  parish,  to  attend  all  the  exercises.  A  more 
formal  invitation  was  sent  to  the  ministers,  the  city 
officials,  absent  members  of  our  church,  and  individ- 
uals known  to  have  a  claim  on  us  for  this  mark  of 
respect  on  account  of  their  having  descended  from 
former  pastors,  or  from  families  noted  for  services 
done  in  our  society.     The  invitation   was  as  follows: 


99 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

"^he    <SDlb    -South." 

MDCCXLVI.  MDCCCXCVI. 

Greeting  in  tt)c  Name  of  tl)e  Corb. 

The  Firft  Prefbyterian  Church,  in  Newburyport,  Maffa- 
chufetts,  completed  its  organization,  April  7th,  1746;  and  this 
Church  and  Society  will  celebrate,  April  7  and  8,  1S96,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniverfary  of  that  event. 

You  are  heartily  invited  to  be  prelent  on  that  occafion  ;  or, 
if  unable  to  attend,  to  fend  fome  meffage  of  congratulation. 

There  will  be  hiftorical  addreffes,  a  collation,  and  other 
attractive  features,  of  which  more  definite  notice  will  be  given 
prefently. 

All  who  love  the  "  Old  South  Church  "  will  be  heartily 
welcomed. 

Yours  faithfully, 

HORACE  C.  HOVEY,  Paftor. 
JOHN  T.  BROWN, 

Chairman  of  General  Committee. 
WILLIAM  E.  CHASE, 

Chairman  of  Committee  on  Invitation. 

WILLIAM    BINLEY,   Clerk  of  the  Church. 
ALVAH  W.   LEAVITT,   Clerk  of  the  Parifh. 
PRENTISS  H.    REED,   Clerk  of  General  Committee. 

Newburyport,   Mai's.,  March  12,  1896. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHTRCH. 


THE  GATHERING. 


In  response  to  this  invitation,  and  at  the  ringing  of 
the  old  bell  cast  by  Paul  Revere,  the  meeting  house 
was  crowded  at  every  service  with  members  of  the 
congregation,  friends  from  other  churches,  and  stran- 
gers  who  took  a  passing  interest  in  proceedings  of 
such  an  unusual  nature.  Those  who  crossed  the 
vestibule  and  entered  the  open  doors  of  the  main 
audience  room,  saw,  first  of  all,  the  decorated  pulpit, 
with  its  floral  display;  on  either  side  aloft  were 
shields  in  blue  and  gold  bearing  the  dates,  1746  and 
1896;  and  swinging  gracefully  from  shield  to  shield 
was  an  elegant  gilded  chain  of  exactly  one  hundred 
and  fifty  links,  each  link  being  designed  to  be  ulti- 
mately the  frame  of  an  interior  view  of  the  historic 
scene.  The  idea  of  a  golden  chain  emblematic  of 
the  stretch  of  years  between  the  two  dates  originated 
with  Mrs.  John  W.  Winder.  It  was  made  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Winder  and  Messrs.  John  M.  Bailey  and 
Lucius  H.  Greely.  Various  plans  were  discussed 
and  given  up  as  impracticable,  and  it  was  finally 
decided  to  make  it  of  wood  and  gild  it.  Each  of 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty  links  is  in  two  pieces  and 
the  whole  length  is  ninety-four  feet.  At  the  right 
of    the   pulpit,    between    it    and    the    cenotaph,  was 


1  o  I 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

the  veiled  tablet  whose  uncovering  was  to  be  an  im- 
portant feature  of  the  day.  The  window  space  at 
the  left  was  filled  with  a  mass  of  evero-reens.  Be- 
neath  the  gallery  and  near  the  cenotaph  was  the 
laurel  crowned  oil  painting  of  the  Rev.  George 
Whitefield,  the  founder  of  this  church,  which  had 
been  kindly  loaned  for  the  occasion  by  the  American 
Congregational  Association  of  Boston,  through  its 
librarian,  Rev.  W.  H.  Cobb,D.  D.  On  an  ample  plat- 
form at  the  left  of  the  pulpit  were  the  portraits  of 
the  former  pastors  of  the  Old  South  Church,  each  on 
its  own  easel,  and  all  grouped  amid  a  forest  of  palms 
and  Easter  lilies.  Over  the  main  door  from  the  cor- 
ridor was  a  beautiful  scroll  bearing  the  motto,  "  Blest 
Be  the  Tie  that  Binds, "  lettered  on  a  white  back- 
ground with  a  yellow  border.  Festoons  of  ever- 
greens ran  along  the  front  of  the  galleries,  the  win- 
dows were  draped  by  Hags,  and  other  decorations 
helped  to  give  the  whole  sanctuary  a  most  charming 
appearance.  This  work  was  done  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  John  M.  Bailey,  the  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee on  decoration,  with  the  efficient  aid  of  Lucius  II. 
Greely,  Charles  W.  Jacoby,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Winder,  Mrs. 
W.  A.  Johnson,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Chase,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Rund- 
lett  and  others.  The  ushering  was  done  under  the 
direction  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  who  had 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

their  hands  full  in  seating  so  many  guests.  To  each 
person  was  given  a  copy  of  the  program  which  was 
as  follows: 

"THE   OLD    SOUTH" 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Newburyport,  Mass. 

REV.  HORACE  C.  IIOVEV,  D.  D.,  Pastor. 

One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Anniversary. 

APRIL  7  AND  8,   1896. 

Program   for  Tuesday,  April   7,   1896. 
a     <*>     a 

Miss  Elizabeth  C  Adams,  Soprano.  Miss  May  Davol,  Contralto. 

Dr.  George  E.  L.  Noyes,  Tenor.        Mr.  William  E.  Chase,  Bass. 

Mrs.  Isadora  Flanders,  Organist. 

AFTERNOON  SERVICE,  2.30  O'CLOCK. 

_  _     ,    j     .     c,  .  Gounod 

Organ  Prelude  in  b , 

Doxology. 

Lord's  Prayer. 

Te  Deum,  Hymn  203,        "O  God,  we  Praise  Thee  and 

J   „  .  Patrick 

Confess, 

Psalm  96,        .  •  Read  b>'  Rev-  Samuel  ShaW- 

'"      Rev.  W.    C.   Richardson,    of     St.    Paul's  Church. 

Anthem,  »  This  is  the  Day,"  •  •  A.  R.   Gaul 

Address  of  welcome, 

John  T.  Brown,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  General  Committee. 

Response,  •  •  '  *  , 

Rev.  Daniel  T.  Fiske,  D.  D.,  of  the  Belleville  Church. 

I  ox 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Memorial  Tablet  (gift  of  John  T.  Brown,  Esq.) 

Presented  by  George  F.  Stone,  Esq.,  of  Chicago. 
Acceptance  of  the  Memorial  Tablet,  for  the  Society 

by  the  Pastor. 
Anthem,        "  Come  to  Our  Hearts  and  Abide,"         J.   C.  Macy 
Greetings  from  "Mother  Churches:" 

First  Church  of  Newbury,  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Sanborn. 
First    Religious  Society  of    Newburyport,   by    Rev. 

S.  C.  Beane,  D.  D. 
Old  Church  of  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  by  Rev.  S.  F.  French. 
Messages  from  the  absent,       Read  by  Mr.  Wm.  E.  Chase. 
Poem  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  K.  Haskell, 

Read  by  Mrs.  David  Foss. 
Hymn,  964,  "O  God,  Our  Help  in  Ages  Past," 

Isaac    Watts 
Benediction. 
Organ  Postlude,      "Alia  Marcia,"  .  .  Guilmant 


EVENING  SERVICE,  7.30  O'CLOCK. 
Organ  Prelude,  Grand  Orlertoire  in  G,  .  Loretz 

Anthem,  "  Praise  Ye  the  Father,"  .  .  Gounod 

Psalm  84,  .  .     Read  by  Rev.  A.  W.  Hitchcock. 

Singing,      "  Over  the  Mountain  Wave,"        Hon.   George  Lunt 
Prayer,  By  Rev.  John  R.  Thurston,  of  Whitinsville. 

Solo,      "  Our  Risen  King,"  .  .  A.  F.  Loud 

Miss  Adams. 
Historical  Address,  "The  Glory  of  the  Fathers," 

By  Rev.  Horace  C.  Hovey,  D.  D.,  Pastor. 

Hymn,  1060,  "O  God,  beneath  Thy  guiding  hand," 

Leonard  Bacon 

Benediction,  .  Rev.  A.  G.  Vermilye,  D.  D. 

Organ  Postlude,      "  Festival  March."  .  Leybach 

1  04 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Program  for  Wednesday,  April   8,  1896. 

<&  <rs  *rs 

AFTERNOON  SERVICE,    2.30  O'CLOCK. 
Organ  Prelude,      "  Andantino,"  .  .  Barnby 

Anthem,      "  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,"  .  H.  Smart 

Ephesians,  First  Chapter,  Read  by  Rev.  C.  E.  Lord,  D.D. 
Prayer,  By  Rev.  Louis  A.  Pope,  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Greetings  from  "  Daughter  Churches:" 

Second  Presbyterian,  by  Rev.  T.  James  Macfaddin. 

Fourth  Congregational,  by  Rev.  Myron  O.  Patton. 

Whitefield  Congregational,  by  Rev.  John  H.  Reid. 
Anthem,      "  The  Heavenly  Mansions,"  .  J.   C.  Macy 

Poem  by  Rev.  W.  R.  Cochrane,  D.  D.,  of  Antrim,  N.  H. 
Messages  from  the  Absent,  read  by  Mr.  William  Binley. 
Greeting  from  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  By  Sec.  W.  B.  Porter. 

Greeting  from  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.,  By  Rev.  C.  P.  Mills. 
Hymn,  51S,   "  Onward  Christian  Soldiers,"      S.  Baring- Gould 

Benediction. 
Organ  Postlude  in  C,  .  .  .  Merkel 


Banquet  in  the  Chapel,  5  o'clock. 
Rev.  Peter  M.  MacDonald,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  presiding. 
Divine  blessing  invoked  by  Rev.  Luther  H.   Angier,  D.   D., 

of  Boston. 
Impromptu  speeches  by  guests. 


EVENING  SERVICE,  7.30  O'CLOCK. 

Organ  Prelude,      "  Elevation  in  F,"  .  .  Roeckel 

Miss  Ella  M.  Johnson. 

Anthem,   "  Blessing,  Honor,  Glory  and  Power," 

Arr.  front  Lambilottc 

io5 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Salutation  from  the  Old  Church  of     Hempstead,   L.   I., 

(252  years  old.) 
Prayer,  .  .  By  Rev.   John  W.  Dodge. 

Solo,      "  My  Hope  is  in  the  Everlasting,"  .  J.  Stainer 

Miss  Adams. 
"  Pastoral  Reminiscences,"  .... 

By  Rev.  Ashbel  G.  Vermilye,  D.  D.,  of  Englewood,  N.  J. 
Hymn,  S24,      "  Blest  be  the  Tie  that  Binds,"  J.  Fawcett 

Benediction  .  .  .  By  the  Pastor. 

Organ  Postlude,      "  March  de  Procession,"  .  Batiste 

This  program  was  carried  out,  to  the  letter,  with 
the  exception  that  the  venerable  Dr.  Angier,  of  Bos- 
ton, was  detained  from  coming  by  reason  of  illness, 
and  that  Dr.  Vermilye  offered  the  prayer  on  Tuesday 
evening,  instead  of  Rev.  John  R.  Thurston,  who 
reciprocated  by  supplementing  the  "'pastoral  remi- 
niscences'' on  Wednesday  evening  with  some  of  his 
own  recollections  of  Oldtown,  together  with  an 
eloquent  off-hand  eulogy  on  the  career  of  the  Old 
South  Church. 

The  address  of  welcome  by  John  T.  Brown, 
Esquire,  the  chairman  of  the  General  Committee, 
was  heartfelt  and  appropriate,  and  was  as  follows: 

MR.    BROWN'S    ADDRESS. 

It  is  my  privilege  by  action  of  this  congregation,  (I  fully 
appreciate  the  courtesy,  and  couple  it  with  a  very  pleasant  duty), 
to  welcome  all  to   the  old    meeting  house   today.     Those  from  a 

1  06 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

distance,  I   welcome  to  the  city,  to  our  homes,  to  our  hearts,  ex- 
tending a   hearty   welcome   home.     To   those   who  from   varied 
causes  have  found   other  church   homes,  to  the  pastors  and   con- 
gregations of  this  city  and  its  neighborhood,  with  whom  our  re- 
lations  are  so   happy,  1  speak  the  joy  and   gratitude  of  this   old 
church  for  your  presence.     Welcome  all,  to  the  place  where  our 
fathers  worshipped,    to   the   seats   they   occupied,   and  may  the 
memories   awakened   by   the   occasion  be   those  of  much   enjoy- 
ment       While     saddened     thoughts     come     to    us   of  the   loved 
ones  missing  from  these  scenes,  who  have  entered  into  rest,  may 
we  see  the  brightness  of  the  silver  tinge  to  the  clouds  enveloping 
their  memories.     In  behalf  of  this  people,  I  wish  for  them,  and 
myself,  to  express  to  you  all,  sincere  and  earnest  thanks  for  your 
presence  with  us  today,  thus  indicating  your  interest  in  all  these 
former  things.     When  at  the  close  of  these  anniversary    exer- 
cises, we  return   to   our  homes,  may  this   renewal   of  our   own 
and   our  ancestral   ties,  and  the  thought   that  we  have  considered 
these   days  of  old,  the   years   of  former  times,  be  a  memory   of 
happiness  until   we  hear  the   voices  of  the   angels,   bidding   us 
welcome  to  the  house  of  many  mansions. 

Rev.  Daniel  T.  Fiske,  D.  D.,  senior  pastor  of  the 
Belleville  Church,  responded  for  the  sister  churches 
and  the  congregation,  speaking  as  follows: 

DR.    FISKE'S    RESPONSE. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Dear  Friends  of  the  Old  South  Church  : 

It  gives  me  great   pleasure  to   be  with  you  on  this   interesting 

anniversary,  and   I  am  happy  to   feel  that  I   am  included  in  that 

cordial  and  graceful   welcome   extended  by  your  representative, 

i  07 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

my  friend,  Mr.  Brown.  And  in  the  name  of  all  these  churches 
of  our  city,  I  heartily  reciprocate,  Sir,  the  kindly  sentiments  you 
have  expressed,  and  I  salute  this  ancient  church  on  this,  her 
one  hundred  and  fiftieth  birthday  anniversary.  Long  may  she 
live,  blessing  and  being  blessed. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  years  seems  a  long  or  a  short  period, 
according  to  the  kind  of  measuring  rod  applied  to  it.  When  I 
reflect  that  my  own  life,  young  as  I  am,  covers  more  than  half 
of  that  period,  and  when  I  further  reflect,  that  my  pastorate  in 
this  city  covers  nearly  one-third  of  it,  I  conclude  that  this  church 
is  after  all,  not  so  very  old.  My  relations  with  it  have  been 
somewhat  intimate,  and  of  the  pleasantest  kind.  They  date 
from  the  day  of  my  ordination  when  your  beloved  and 
honored  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  F.  Stearns,  gave  me,  in  be- 
half of  the  ordaining  council,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
which  he  did  so  graeefully,  so  cordially,  in  words  so  choice  and 
so  kind,  with  a  spirit  so  christian  and  winsome  that  my  heart 
went  out  to  him  at  once,  and  then  and  there  began  a  friendship 
which  grew  apace  and  was  strengthened  by  his  many  subsequent 
acts  of  kindness,  by  my  frequent  visits  to  his  home  and  by  de- 
lightful christian  intercourse  with  himself  and  his  cultured  wife, 
with  their  bright  little  children  about  them,  one  of  whom  became 
the  distinguished,  and  now  lamented,  professor  of  theology  in 
Bangor  Theological  Seminary.  Dr.  Stearns  so  endeared  him- 
self to  me  that  I  verily  believe  I  mourned  his  departure  from  our 
city  two  years  later,  as  much  as  did  his  own  people. 

You  have  had  seven  pastors  since  Dr.  Stearns,  and  I  have 
known  them  all  very  well,  and  my  pulpit  exchanges  with  them 
have  been  frequent  and  pleasant,  and  further  you  have  been 
pleased  to   honor   me   with  an    invitation    to  take  part  in  the  in- 


10S 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

stallation  services  of  every  one  of  them  or  nearly  every  one  of 
them  I  have  also  been  privileged  to  number  among  my  per- 
sonal friends  not  a  few  of  the  lay-members  of  this  church;  too 
many  of  whom,  alas,  are  missing  today. 

This  church  has  had   an  interesting  history,  which  it  does  not 
belong  to  me  to  rehearse.     I  wish  simply,  with  your  leave,  to 
sPeak&  of  one    feature    of  the    church,    viz:   its   denominational 
catholicity.     It  is  called  a  Presbyterian  Church,  and   such  it  is; 
but  its  founder,   that   prince   of  preachers,    George   Whitefield, 
was  an  Episcopalian,  who,  early  in  life,  by  association  with  the 
Wesleys,  became   surcharged   with  the    spirit  of  Methodism,  so 
that  in  his  own  person  he  seemed  to  link  this  church  to  those 
two  great  denominations.     Then,  the  material  of  the  church,  at 
the  outset,  was  drawn   from  two   Congregational   churches,  and 
was  good  Congregational  stuff.     And,    indeed,  for  about  three 
years  after  its  organization  this  church  was  virtually  a  Congre- 
gational church,    and    would   doubtless   have   always    remained 
such,  but  for  the  unjust  territorial  parish  laws  then    in    force. 
Moreover,    its   first    pastor    came  to  it  from  a    Congregational 
church,  and  some  of  his  successors  were  by  birth  and  training 
Congregationahsts.     And  thus  some  of  the  different  ingredients 
of  these    three  sects,  a  little   of  the  stateliness  of  Episcopacy,  a 
little  of  the  fervor  of  Methodism,  and  a  little  of  the  liberty  of 
Congregationalism,   seem  to  have  been  shaken  up  together,  and 
lo,  the  result !  an  orderly,  earnest,  liberal  type  of  Presbytenanism. 
And  in  this  church  and  its  history  we  have  an  illustration  of 
the    comparatively    small    importance    of  mere  church  polity. 
Who  ever  thinks  of  the  Old  South,  first  and  chiefly,  as  a  Pres- 
byterian church.     Enough    that  it    is    a   true   christian  church; 
whatever  else  it  is,  matters  little.     It  is  and  always  has  been,  in 

i  09 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

living  sympathy  with  the  other  christian  churches  of  this  city 
and  vicinity,  one  with  them  in  faith,  love  and  devotion  to  a 
common  Lord  and  Master.  And  this  is  what  is  wanted  here  and 
everywhere,  more  interdenominational  sympathy,  courtesy, 
fellowship  and  co-operation. 

We  have  of  late  heard  much  ahout  "organic  church  union," 
and  the  abolition  of  all  sects  and  the  "re-union  of  Christendom" 
in  one  vast  centralized  ecclesiastical  organization.  This  seems 
to  me  but  a  pleasant  dream.  I  do  not  believe  its  realization 
either  possible  or  desirable.  What  we  do  want  is  "unitv  of  the 
spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace."  This,  and  only  this,  I  believe 
was  what  our  Saviour  had  in  mind  when  he  prayed  for  those 
who  were,  and  were  to  be  his  disciples,  "That  they  all  may  be 
one,  as  thou  Father  art  in  me  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may 
be  one  in  us." 

Certainly  I  shall  be  content  when  that  prayer  is  so  fully  an- 
swered, that  christians  of  every  name,  while  retaining  if  they 
wish,  their  denominational  peculiarities,  shall  be  one  in  spirit, 
one  in  charity,  one  in  zeal,  moving  forward  together  as  one 
army  of  the  Lord  under  the  one  uplifted  banner  of  the  cross  to 
the  conquest  of  the  world  for  Christ. 

In  conclusion  allow  me  to  congratulate  this  church  upon  a 
history  that  for  a  century  and  a  half  has  been  illumined  with  so 
many  tokens  of  the  divine  favor,  and  to  express  the  hope  that 
for  another  century  and  a  half  it  ma)'  stand  here  a  solid  bulwark 
against  every  incoming  tide  of  error  and  wickedness,  a  mighty 
power  that  makes  for  righteousness,  yea,  a  living  embodiment 
of  that  gospel  which  is  the  power  of  God  unto  Salvation  to  every 
one  that  believeth.  While  conserving  all  the  good  of  the  past 
may  it  with  outstretched  and  eager  hands  be  ready  to  seize  hold 


I  i  o 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

of  the  greater  good  of  the  future,  and  be  more  than  ever  a 
leader  in  all  aggressive  movements,  for  the  moral  and  religious 
welfare  of  our  city,  of  our  country,  of  the  whole  world. 


Hon.  George  F.  Stone,  of  Chicago,  a  great-great 
grandson  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons,  in  a  brilliant 
and  exceedingly  interesting  manner  addressed  the 
pastor  and  people  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church 
and  society,  presenting  to  them,  as  the  gift  of  John  T. 
Brown,  Esquire,  the  elaborate  and  costly  memorial 
tablet  bearing  the  names  of  all  the  pastors.  He 
spoke  as  follows: 

MR.    STONE'S    ADDRESS. 

Mr.   Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

A  community  unmindful  of  its  benefactors  is  ignoble.  A 
patriotic  and  christian  people  make  glad,  public  and  grateful 
recognition  of  those  who  in  an  important  sense  have  contributed 
to  the  public  welfare.  Newburyport  has  always  taken  a  just 
pride  in  an  illustrious  ancestry,  and  has  honored  her  sons  and 
her  daughters,  who  in  varied  departments  have  reflected  honor 
upon  her  fair  name.  Throughout  the  civilized  world  memorials 
may  be  seen  on  every  hand  of  those  who  have  conferred  signal 

benefits  upon  society . 

We  are  gathered  here  today  to  present  a  tablet  upon  which  are 
inscribed/not  the  names  of  soldiers,  or  statesmen,  or  jurists; 
nor  of  those  who  have  founded  great  libraries  or  endowed  insti- 
tutions   of  learning;     nor    of  those    who    have   built    railroads, 


i  i  i 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

eminently  worthy  as  these  all  are  of  high  public  regard,  but  of 
those  who  have  built  up  individual  and  national  character  during 
one  hundred  and  fifty  eventful  years ;  who  have  cheered,  com- 
forted and  sustained  human  hearts  in  the  trying  vicissitudes  of 
life's  experiences;  of  those  who  in  this  consecrated  place  have 
preached  the  everlasting  gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  and  who  have  faithfully  and  eloquently  proclaimed  "  that 
kingdom  which  is  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost ;"  whose  prayers,  labors  and  example  through  successive 
generations,  have  become  incorporated  into  our  national  life  ;  who 
exalted  piety  and  fostered  education ;  whose  lofty  ideals  of 
Christian  living  permeated  and  inspired  the  pregnant  years  in 
which  they  lived  ;  who  unfalteringly  held  up  the  banner  of  the 
cross  and  enjoined  the  highest  duties  of  citizenship;  whose 
presence  was  as  the  "All's  Well!"'  breaking  upon  the  midnight 
air  and  as  the  dawning  of  the  morning  to  hearts  weary  and  sick 
and  sad  who  thought  the  night  would  never  end ;  whose  graces 
of  manner  and  of  spirit  were  wrought  into  human  lives  and 
transmitted  unto  generation  after  generation ;  whose  patriotism 
was  a  part  of  their  piety  and  whose  piety  was  a  part  of  their 
patriotism. 

"Noble  were  thej  and  true, 
Of  cultured  thought,  with  ceremony  sweet,  refinement  pure, 
A  type  which  through  all  hazards  must  endure 
And  into  various  circumstance  be  wrought." 

Standing  in  this  historic  city,  bathed  in  the  memories  of 
colonial  and  revolutionary  times,  and  within  this  sacred  edifice 
whose  walls  have  echoed  to  the  learning  and  eloquence  of  White- 


Louisa  Parsons  Hopkins. 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

field,  Parsons,  Murray  and  Dana;  of  Williams,  Proudfit  and 
Stearns;  of  Vermilye,  Richardson  and  Durfee ;  of  Newell, 
Wallace,  Sinclair  and  Hovey,  the  touch  of  the  vanished  hand  I 
can  almost  feel.  I  seem  to  hear  their  voices  still  breaking  m 
sweetness  upon  the  air.  Thank  God,  of  that  goodly  and 
scholarly  company  Drs.  Vermilye  and  Hovey  are  with  us  to- 
day Surely  they  must  experience  that  comfort  described  by 
Cicero,  in  a  letter  to  his  friend  Atticus,  »  that  the  recollects  of 
past  good  actions  yields  an  unspeakable  comfort  to  the  soul." 

TcTform  any  adequate  idea  of  the  value  of  their  lives,  of  then- 
nobility  and  fidelity,  we  must  consider,  though  briefly,  the  great 
epochs  in  the  history  of  our  country  embraced  in  this  one  hun- 
dred and    fifty    years.     First:   The    colonial    period,   when    the 
foundations  of  the  Republic,  under  God,  were  being  hud  deep 
in  eternal  and  unchangeable  principles,  in  God's  sovereignty  and 
man's   accountability.     It    was    a   crude  period,  trying,  tumult- 
uous, prayerful,  momentous;   yet  it  was  a  glorious  period  out  ot 
which   was  born  a  great  and  liberty-loving  nation,  whose  his- 
tory is  that  of  the  development  of  the  best  civilization  and  the 
highest  type  of  citizenship.     Then  came  the  revolutionary  period 
when    throughout  the  corridors  of  that  heroic  time  sounded  in 
clarion  notes  the  patriotic,  lofty,  defiant  and  inspiring  words  of 
\dams,   Hancock  and  Otis  ;  of   Putnam   and  of  Warren;  when 
the  light  of   Paul  Revere's  lantern  flashed  from  the  church  belfry 
throughout    the    great    Commonwealth;    when     Lexington    and 
Concord  and  Bunker  Hill   thrilled  the  nations  of  the  earth  with 
the  sublime  declaration    that    "all  men   are  created  equal  ;  that 
they    are   endowed    by    their    Creator    with    certain    inalienable 
rights;     that    among  these  are  life,   liberty  and    the    pursuit  of 
happiness."   Following,  was  the  great  anti-slavery  agitation,  when 

i  13 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Phillips,  Sumner  and  your  own  Garrison  undauntedly  flung  their 
impassioned  appeals  for  emancipation  into  the  ears  of  their 
countrymen;  when  Whittier,  Lowell  and  Longfellow  sung; 
when  the  profound  learning  and  graces  of  speech  of  Webster, 
Everett  and  your  gifted  dishing  gave  to  New  England  a 
classic  renown ;  when  under  the  magnetic  leadership  of  Horace 
Mann  and  of  Agassiz,  knowle  ge  became  fascinating  and  ed- 
ucation received  a  new  impulse.  Now  were  ushered  in  the 
bloody  years  of  that  wickedest  rebellion  that  ever  stained  the 
annals  of  history — wickedest  because  against  the  most  benef- 
icent government  ever  instituted  ;  now  was  handed  down  to 
posterity  amid  the  carnage  of  contending  hosts  the  unimpaired 
and  glorious  heritage  of  the  fathers.  Now  your  own  sons, 
holding  up  the  glorious  ensign  of  the  Republic,  marched  amid 
the  storms  of  war  to  the  defense  of  that  unstained  though  bat- 
tle-scarred banner — worthy  descendants  of  an  heroic  ancestry, 
whose  blood  and  the  blood  of  whose  kindred  has  been  poured 
out  on  many  a  field  of  glory,  shedding  an  imperishable  lustre 
upon  our  country's  historic  page  ! 

"Ah  me!  how  cherished  and  how  blest 
Their  martyr  rest!" 

Such  were  the  times  in  which  these  men  wrought.  Surely  it 
is  meet  that  we  preserve  their  names  and  their  memories. 
Honor  to  that  thoughtful  and  patriotic  citizen  whose  generositv 
has   caused  their  names    to    be    inscribed    upon    yonder   tablet. 

Mr.  Chairman,  a  three-fold  obligation  rests  upon  us;  the  past, 
the  present  and  the  future  hold  us  responsible  for  the  priceless 
heritage  so  gloriously  bequeathed. 


i  14 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

"While  the  generations  fall  asleep, 

Sow  the  good  seed  ye  reap. 

Build  on  the  old  foundations  firm  and  sure 

The  virtues  that  endure; 

Revere  the  ancient  rule 

Of  church  and  school; 

Lift  the  proud  pile  by  each  well-tempered  tool ; 

And  though  to  vast  expansions  grown, 

Integrity  be  still  the  corner-stone-  — 

Honor  and  purity  alone 

Rear  its  proportions  true, 
While  faith  shall  round  the  dome 

Up  to  the  spheric  blue. 
Their  strong-winged  Hope  shall  fly 
Through  widening  arcs  of  love's  refulgent  sky. 
In  that  grand  temple  all  our  growing  race 
Shall  gather  face  to  face 
In  their  eternal  home, — 

For  Thou,  O  Lord,  hast  been  our  dwelling-place." 

* 

The  names  of  the  pastors  who  presided  over  this  society  from 
the  date  of  its  foundation  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1746,  are  as 
follows:  Jonathan  Parsons,  John  Murray,  Daniel  Dana,  Samuel 
P.  Williams,  John  Proudfit,  Jonathan  F.  Stearns,  Ashbel  G. 
Vermilye,  Richard  H.  Richardson,  Charles  S.  Durfee,  William 
W.  Newell,  Jr.,  Charles  C.  Wallace,  Brevard  D.  Sinclair, 
Horace  C.  Hovey. 

I  now  have  the  honor  and  the  pleasure,  on  behalf  of  your 
fellow  citizen,  a  devoted  member  of  this  congregation,  Mr. 
John  T.  Brown,  to  present  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of 
Newburyport  the  marble  tablet  bearing  the  names  of  these   men 


*Louisa  Parsons  Hopkins. 

1*5 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

of  faith,  servants  of  the  Most  High,  "  who  walked  worthy  of 
the  vocation  wherewith  they  were  called,"  the  memory  of  whose 
lives  shall  he  cherished  among  the  sacred  possessions  of  this 
church,  of  this   society    and    of  this  community. 


As  the  speaker  delivered  the  concluding  paragraph 
of  his  address,  Mr.  Harold  L.  Brown,  a  nephew  of 
the  donor,  drew  the  retaining  cord  that  held  the  veil, 
and  the  memorial  tablet  was  disclosed  to  the  admir- 
ing gaze  of  the  audience.  This  noble  mural  tablet 
is  thirteen  feet  in  height,  and  six  feet  in  width,  of 
white  Italian  marble,  and  bears  on  its  face  the  names 
of  the  thirteen  pastors  with  the  dates  of  their  terms 
of  service.  The  names  are  cut  in  old  English 
style,  and  with  the  years  are  in  gold  leaf.  The  tablet 
has  a  border  all  around  it  of  Tennessee  marble  in 
harmony  with  the  frescoed  colors  of  the  audience 
room.  The  whole  is  set  in  a  rich  gold  frame,  and 
is  surmounted  by  a  cap  cut  in  relief,  with  an  urn  in 
the  centre,  from  which  scrolls  reach  out  to  the  sides 
of  the  setting.  The  stonework  was  clone  by  F.  G. 
Cummings  &  Co.,  of  Haverhill,  and  it  is  probably 
one  of  the  largest  mural  tablets  in  the  country. 

On  behalf  of  the  Church  and  Parish,  the  pastor, 
Rev.  Dr.  Hovey,  accepted  the  beautiful  gift  in  an  ad- 
dress abounding  in  fervor  and  gratitude,  as   well  as 


i  i  6 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

in  admirable  recognition   of  the  merits    of  his   pas- 
toral predecessors.     His  address  was  as  follows: 

DR.    HOVEY'S    RESPONSE. 

Mr.   George  F.  Stone  : 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  greet  you  here,  as  our  honored 
guest,  and  as  the  descendant  of  the  first  pastor  of  this  venerable 
church,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons. 

We  are  especially  happy  to  accept  from  your  hands  the  gift  of 
yonder  rich  mural  tablet,  as  another  of  the  multiplied  proofs  of 
"the  generosity  and  public  spirit  of  our  friend  and  brother,  John 
T.  Brown,  Esq.  It  would  gratify  me  personally  to  tell  you  of 
some  of  the  costly  and  substantial  memorials  he  has  placed  to 
adorn  our  public  buildings,  avenues  and  cemeteries,  but  he  him- 
self has  expressly  forbidden  my  doing  so  on  this  occasion.  He 
has  not  told  me,  however,  to  conceal  the  fact  that  every  time  the 
tower  clock  of  this  meeting-house  strikes  the  hours  and  half- 
hours,  it  reminds  us  of  the  liberality  of  the  three  sisters  and 
brother  of  the  late  Mr.  Albert  Plumer,  whose  friend  and  adviser 
he  has  been  amid  their  bereavement. 

There  is  a  propriety  in  duly  acknowledging  such  tokens  of 
the  love  our  Lord  himself  plants  in  the  hearts  of  his  children  ; 
because  it  serves  to  stimulate  others  to  similar  acts.  You  can 
see  this  today  in  the  elaborate  decorations  so  skillfully  arranged 
around  the  church  ;  these  wreaths  and  garlands,  flowers  and 
mottoes,  and  this  wonderful  chain  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  links, 
binding  the  dates  1746  and  1896  together. 

The  tablet  itself  is  a  supremely  beautiful  and  noble  ornament 
of  our  sanctuary  ;  and   a   delightful  thing  about  it  is  that  before 

117 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

planning  for  what  must  represent  a  considerable  cost,  the  donor, 
together  with  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Frost,  another  of  our  generous 
members,  combined  to  wipe  out  the  last  dollar  of  debt  resting 
on  the  parish.  Thus  we  can  look  around  us  without  the  feeling 
that  we  are  annoyed  by  any  financial  fetters. 

Behold  that  magnificent  marble  slab  with  its  letters  of  gold. 
The  body  of  it  is  from  sunny  Italy,  the  home  of  the  muses  and 
the  graces,  as  well  as  of  the  Mother  Church  with  all  its  varied 
powers  and  influences.  It  proves  that  some  good  things  can 
come,  even  from  Rome;  for  doubtless  that  smooth,  polished 
Italian  marble  passed  through  the  ports  of  the  Eternal  City  on 
its  way  hither.  The  border  is  of  red  Tennessee  marble  ;  from 
the  home  of  the  sturdy  American  Highlanders,  the  mountain 
whites,  descendants  of  the  Scotch  and  Scotch-Irish.  Thev  stood 
loyally  for  Presbyterianism  when  it  cost  them  much  to  do  so  ; 
and  loyally  for  the  stars  and  stripes  when  environed  by  blazing 
rebellion. 

The  names  of  all  the  pastors  for  the  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  of  our  history  are  cut  in  old  English  letters,  which  besides 
being  in  excellent  taste  for  an  ecclesiastical  memorial,  will  have 
the  advantage  of  occupying  the  thoughts  of  people  who  find 
the  sermons  dull,  as  they  sometimes  do,  and  after  studying  them 
out  they  will  enjoy  the  gratification  of  their  triumph ;  or  better 
still,  they  can  meditate  on  the  excellencies  of  the  men  who  have 
served  them  faithfully. 

Every  one  will  ask  why  Whitefield's  name  is  not  there,  as  he 
was  the  recognized  founder  of  this  church  ;  and  why  the  name 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Adams  is  not  there,  who  served  here  as  "stated 
preacher"  for  three  troublous  years  amid  hardships  and  persecu- 
tion incident  to   the  gathering   of  the  society.      The   only  reason 


i  18 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

is  that  these  great  and  useful  and  honored  men  were  not 
-pastors."  Neither  were  others  such  whose  temporary  labors 
won  friends  and  did  great  good  to  many  souls.  It  is  distinctly  a 
list  of  the  pastors  of  this  church 

Every  one  of  those  men  had  his  imperfections  as  well  as  his 
good  qualities,  but  the  reason  for  according  them  the  honor  of 
that  tablet  is  their  official  relation  to  this   congregation. 

There    they    stand:    Parsons,    the    Puritan;  Murray,  the  ma- 
jestic;  Dana,    the    devout;    Williams,    the    wise;   Proudfit,    the 
pious;    Stearns,  the    saintly;  Vermilye,   the  vigilant;   Richard- 
son, the    righteous;   Durfee,    the  diligent;   Newell,  the    noble; 
Wallace,  the  watchful;   Sinclair,  the  sparkling;   and  Hovey,  the 
humble    admirer  of  his  predecessors!     There    are  their  names 
in  letters  of  gold,  with  the  scrolls  aloft,  emblems  of  the  scroll  of 
life  eternal,  and  the  ever  burning  golden  torch  between,  as  the 
ancient  sign  of  immortality,  the  sacred  flame  that  cannot  be  con- 
sumed or  extinguished.     And  here,  on  my  left,  amid  bowers  of 
evergreens,  are  the  cherished  portraits  of  the  pastors,  in  gather- 
in-  which  our  ever   thoughtful  friend,  Mr.  Brown,  took  a   great 
and  active  interest.     Whitefield's  portrait  beyond   the  tablet  is 
the  only  one  in  existence  of  life  size,  and  is  kindly    loaned  for 
the  occasion  from  the  Congregational  Library  in  Boston. 

I  wonder  if  these  holy  men  who  are  gone,  leaving  only  Dr. 
Vermilye,  Mr.  Sinclair,  and  the  speaker  to  survive,  look  down 
today  from  their  heavenly  home  and  take  pleasure  in  these  lov- 
ing tributes  to  their  memory.  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  they 
do";  "for  are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits  sent  forth  to 
minister  to  them  that  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation?" 

I  would  not  recklessly  open  anew  the  fountain  of  tears,  but 
mv    memory  brings  back  a  dying  chamber  where  many  a  prayer 


i  19 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

was  offered  to  God  in  the  fond  belief  that  it  was  also  heard 
somehow  by  a  beloved  one  who  seemed  unconscious  to  all 
human  appeals.  She,  too,  has  passed  away  ;  and  she  too  looks 
down  today,  well  pleased  with  this  offering  in  which  she  would 
gladly  have  shared  had  the  Lord  permitted  her  to  tarry  with  us. 

Years  will  roll  away  and  we  shall  all  depart.  But  that  tablet 
will  remain,  if  the  Lord  please,  till  another  cycle  shall  be  com- 
pleted ;  and  then  perhaps  some  other  generous  man  will  think  of 
us  as  we  think  kindly  of  those  who  now  are  numbered  with  the 
dead  ;  and  another  tablet  will  be  placed,  amid  the  ceremonies  of 
the  two  hundredth  anniversary,  with  its  names  in  gold  to  match 
that  which  now  is  accepted  as  a  tribute  to  the  pastors  of  the  Old 
South  Church  and  of  love  to  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the 
saints. 

I  hereby  accept,  through  you  and  on  behalf  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  Society,  the  mural  tablet,  the  gift  of  Mr. 
John  T.  Brown,  and  express  the  unanimous  and  hearty  thanks 
of  the  congregation. 


i  2  o 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


GREETINGS  FROM  THE  CHURCHES. 


It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  we  are  only  able  to 
publish  abstracts  of  the  greetings  brought  to  us  from 
the  "  Mother  Churches,"  but  we  can  assure  those  who 
brought  them  that  we  appreciate  every  word  spoken, 
and  feel  that  the  salutations  are  sincere  and  precious. 

FROM    THE    FIRST    CHURCH    IN    NEWBURY, 

BY    THE    PASTOR,    REV.    F.    W.    SANBORN. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  us  of  the  First  Church  in  Newbury  to  unite 

with  the  rest  in  admiring  the  vigorous  and   beautiful  old  age  to 

which   your   church   organization   has   attained.     There   are   no 

colors  more  delightful  to  the  eye   than  those  which  the  brush  of 

time  has  placed  upon  the  stone  of  which  the  old-world  cathedrals 

are  made.     And   there    is  no   other  beauty  like  that  of  old   men 

and  old  women.      We  rejoice  heartily  in  your  prosperous  old  age. 

We  of  the    First   Church  in   Newbury   are  also   old.      But  we 

have  a  right  to  rejoice,  not    only  in  this  characteristic  which  we 

have  in  common,  but  also  in  the  relation  which  we  had  to  your 

earliest  years.     The  New  England  climate  is  hard  and  severe, 

and  no  one  can  say  how   much  of   the  strength  which  you  have 

shown  in  your  maturity  came  of  the  faithful  care  of  the  mother 

church,  which  kept  you  warm   in    the  cradle  of  a   sturdier   and 


I  2  I 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

more  mature  Congregationalism,  until  you  were  strong  enough 
to  go  forth  alone  into  the  world. 

But  when  you  did  go  forth,  how  sturdily  and  successfully  you 
did  your  part.  We  take  pride  in  your  prosperity,  even  when 
we  have  to  admit  that  in  some  respects  you  are  our  superior, 
when  we  are  forced  to  admit  that  your  pulpit  is  far  higher  than 
ours  and  that  our  Calvinism  would  not  for  a  moment  endure 
comparison  with  yours. 

We  congratulate  you  on  the  arrival  of  this  good  day  in  your 
history. 

FROM    THE    FIRST    RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY. 

Rev.  S.  C.  Beane,  D.  D.,  in  behalf  of  the  Third 
Church  in  Newbury,  now  the  First  Religious  Society 
in  Newburyport,  gave  the  hearty  greeting  of  that 
mother  to  this  daughter.  He  briefly  reviewed  the 
controversy  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  found  much  reason  and 
good  intention  on  both  sides,  and  some  things  on  each 
side  to  blame.     He  said: 

To  the  Congregational  ear  of  Puritan  New  England,  "  Pres- 
byterianism"  was  a  dreaded  word.  North  Essex,  too,  had  al- 
ways been  Arminian  in  its  tendencies,  and  now  under  White- 
field  and  his  associates  came  a  Calvinistic  reaction.  The  First 
and  Third  Newbury  Churches  had  legal  parish  rights  and  duties 
which  almost  compelled  them  to  hold  on  to  their  members  who 
wished  to  break  away.  But  by  this  contest  religious  libertvwas 
put  to  a  necessary  test,  and  no  event  in  New  England   history 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

helped  more  in  the  end  to  secure  universal  toleration  than  this 
sharp  issue  waged  so  determinedly  on  both  sides  in  Newbury- 
port.     The    ground    of    the  old    controversy    no   longer  exists. 
Probably  today  no  person  lives  in  Newburyport  whose  theology 
would  have  admitted  him  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  its 
beginning;  we  have  all  gone  astray,  nay,  rather  let  us  believe, 
have  all  progressed,  and  a  larger  Christian  fellowship  is  taking 
the    place    of    the  old    theological  warfares.     For    centuries    to 
come,    unless    God    shall    have    for    us    some  better  thing,  may 
you  in  your  way,  and  we  in  our  way,  serve    the    Kingdom    of 
heaven    together,  though    with    outward  and  theological  differ- 
ence,   till    you  by    your  light  and    experience,   and  we  by  our 
light  and  experience,  shall  have  made  our  full  contributions  to 
the  good  time  coming,  sharing  always  in  a  holy  rivalry  to  fulfil 
the  Master's  dying  prayer  "That  they  all  may  be  oner 

FROM    THE    OLD    CHURCH    OF    LONDONDERRY, 

Whose  historical  antecedents  justify  our  styling  it 
the  oldest  Presbyterian  Church  in  New  England, 
greetings  were  brought  by  their  genial  and  beloved 
pastor,  Rev.  S.  F.  French,  in  the  following  words: 

Mr.   Chairman,  and  Brethren  : 

You  have  kindly  welcomed  me  as  from  the  Granite  state.  It 
so  happens  that  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Londonderry,  N.  H., 
which  I,  as  settled  pastor,  have  the  honor  to  represent,  is  the 
oldest  church  in  the  Presbytery  of  Boston,  having  been  formed 
in  1735,  a  hundred  and  sixty-one  years  ago. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

The  settlers  of  that  township  were  of  Scotch  ancestry,  coming 
to  this  country  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  They  were  a  sturdy, 
intelligent,  religious  race.  They  brought  their  Bible,  their  Sab- 
bath, their  church,  their  religion  with  them.  Their  first  religious 
service  was  in  the  open  air  under  the  wide  spreading  oak  with  a 
huge  rock  for  pulpit. 

From  them  have  sprung  a  numerous  people  who  migrated  to 
the  north  and  west,  even  to  remote  parts  of  the  land.  These 
descendants  have  proved  themselves  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the 
church  everywhere. 

While  there  have  been  many  swarms  from  the  old  hive,  this 
ancient  church  is  possessed  of  much  strength  still.  Its  house  of 
worship,  for  comfort,  beauty  and  refined  taste  is  surpassed  by 
few,  if  any,  in  the  larger  settlements,  and  the  worshippers  greatly 
revere  the  God  and  church  of  their  fathers. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  bring  the  Christian  salutation  of 
this  time  honored  church  to  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of 
Newburyport,  whose  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  is 
now  being  celebrated.  In  the  currents  of  trade  between  the  sea 
board  and  the  interior,  in  former  times  more  than  recently  per- 
haps, the  people  of  these  churches  have  been  closely  related.  A 
former  pastor  of  this  First  Presbyterian  church,  Rev.  Daniel 
Dana,  D.  D.,  was  at  one  time  pastor  of  the  Londonderry  church, 
and  the  blind  preacher  Rev.  Joseph  Prince,  whose  bones  lie  be- 
neath this  pulpit  with  those  of  the  immortal  Parsons  and  White- 
field,  was  once  pastor  for  several  years  in  the  near  vicinity  of 
Londonderry.  As  the  waters  of  the  ocean  ascending  in  vapor 
rise  to  the  hills  and  descending  float  in  abundant  streams  to  old 
ocean  again,  so  may  the  blessings  of  Divine  grace  continue  to 
fructify  these  churches  and  make  them  an  honor  in  the  kingdom 
of  our  God  forever. 

I  2  4 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Although  the  greetings  from  the  "Daughter 
Churches"  came  in  on  the  second  day,  by  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  program,  it  seems  more  natural  to 
print  them  here. 

FROM    THE    SECOND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  first  of  these  was  a  hearty  salutation  from  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  now  known  as  "The 
Church  of  Our  Fathers/'  The  pleasant  message 
was  brought  by  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  T.  James  Mac- 
faddin,  and  was  as  follows: 

To  the  pastor,   officers  and  members  of  the    First    Presby- 
terian   Church  : 

Dearly  Beloved: — It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  stand 
here  today  as  the  representative  and  bearer  of  Christian  greeting 
from  a  church  whose  government  and  principles  are  akin  to 
your  own ;  the  Church  of  Our  Fathers,  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Society,  Newburyport. 

Today  you  commemorate  your  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  birth- 
day and  in  a  few  short  months  we  shall  commemorate  our  one 
hundred  and  first  of  our  organization,  and  our  century  since  we 
first  entered  our  present  church  home,  which  today  stands,  with 
the  exceptions  of  the  pews,  pulpit  and  position,  just  as  it  did 
when  our  fathers  first  received  it  from  the  hands  of  its  builders, 
one  hundred  years  ago;  being  but  ten  years  younger  than 
the  famous  old  church  at  Rocky  Hill.  With  your  church 
we  stand  related  as  mother  and  daughter,  for  the  sin  of  our  sep- 

125 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

aration  from  you  we  have  fully  atoned.  That  man  of  God,  Dr. 
Dana,  whom  we  most  religiously  hated,  we  afterwards  intensely 
loved.     We  buried  him  from  our  church. 

It  does  me  good  to  stand  here,  under  the  roof  of  this  old 
church  that  has  stood  as  a  monitor  of  the  Most  High  God,  a  faith- 
ful witness  to  His  truth  for  fifteen  decades,  its  spire  pointing 
heavenward,  its  gilded  peak  illumined  by  the  sun,  giving  to  the 
weary  and  heavy  laden  of  earth  a  shimmering  of  the  glory  of 
Him,  the  Great  Priest  who  has  passed  into  the  heavens. 

It  does  me  good  to  stand  here  as  an  American,  for  right  be- 
fore me,  I  am  told,  are  the  aisles  once  well  filled  by  heroes  called 
from  their  devotions  by  the  clashing  of  arms  in  that  terrible 
struggle  for  what  is  more  than  life,  liberty. 

It  does  me  good  to  stand  here  today  and  think  of  those  brave 
sailors  who  went  down  to  sea  in  ships.      God  bless  the  sailor. 

Might  not  this  be  called  a  sailors'  church?  When  I  think  of 
the  many  who  called  this  old  church  their  home  and  left  it  to  do 
business  on  the  gieat  waters,  many  who  first  shipped  before  the 
mast,  and  afterwards  by  hard  toil,  and  fidelity  became  comman- 
ders, as  brave  a  set  of  men  as  ever  trod  a  deck  or  in  war  fought  a 
ship  or  in  peace  a  storm,  have  I  not  good  cause  for  gladness? 
When  I  think  of  the  many  noble  men  of  God  who  have  stood 
in  that  pulpit  and  made  these  old  walls  resound  with  their 
messages  of  love  from  the  Prince  of  Peace,  am  I  not  reminded 
of  the  glory  of  their  Master,  yours  and  mine? 

The  Holy  Ghost  has  written,  that  Christ's  glory  lies  in  k'  His 
brethren,  the  messengers  of  the  churches,  the  glory  of  Christ." 
When  I  think  of  him,  over  whose  remains  I  am  standing,  George 
Whitefield,  letting  his  labors  of  love  pass  before  me,  thinking  of 
his  intrepidity  in  facing  section  after  section  of  this  land  which 


126 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

seemed  hide-bound  by  religiousness  perishing  for  true,  pure  re- 
ligion, how  earnestly  he  preached  in  spite  of  protest  from  clergy 
and  people,  "  Salvation  by  God's  grace  through  the  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ,  alone,"  I  feel  like  the  wilting  grass  and  flowers  that  have 
just  been  watered  by  the  summer  shower,  invigorated,  encouraged 
to  stand  fast,  preaching  the  same  old  gospel,  "Waiting  in  that 
blessed  hope  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God  and  our 
Savior  Jesus  Christ. 

When  I  think  of  your  record  as  a  church  that,  during  the 
many  long  months  you  have  stood,  you  have  averaged  one  soul  a 
month  for  Christ,  this  fact  alone  should  be  enough  to  inspire  my 
mission  to  you  this  day.  As  a  sister  church  we  greet  you,  and 
pray  that,  when  the  last  moment  of  the  centuries  of  time  shall 
have  ended,  when  time  shall  be  no  more,  when  the  sea  and  death 
and  hades  give  up  their  dead,  that  you  and  yours  with  mine  shall 
appear  before  the  righteous  Judge  of  both  heaven  and  earth  as 
pure,  as  innocent,  as  lovely  and  as  fragrant  as  those  flowers  ap- 
pear to  us  this  day. 

FROM    THE    FOURTH    CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH, 

BY    THE    PASTOR,    REV.    MYRON    O.    PATTON. 

Mr.   Chairman,  and  Members  of  the  Old  South   Church: 

The  members  of  the  Fourth  Religious  Society  bring  you 
greeting  upon  this,  the  happy  occasion  of  your  150th  anniversary. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  years  old !  It  seems  a  long  time,  and 
yet,  as  our  beloved  brother,  Dr.  Fiske.  told  us  yesterday,  "meas- 
ured by  a  life  spanning  more  than  half  that  time  it  does  not 
seem  so  very  long." 

Nearly  a  half  century  of  this  time  had  passed  away  when  the 
daughter  who  now  greets    you  was  born.       One    hundred  and 

1  2  7 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

three  years  have  we  cultivated  our  garden  plot  almost  under  the 
shadow  of  your  towering  spire.  What  changes  have  come  to 
us  both.     Changes  for  the  better  we  hope. 

When  we  were  born  you  were  a  stately  matron  of  forty- 
seven.  Doubtless  you  seemed  to  us  then  quite  well  along  in 
years.  Today  a  century  and  more  has  passed  and  we  seem 
almost  as  venerable  as  yourself.  Indeed,  so  far  as  outward  ap- 
pearance is  concerned,  we  should  be  judged  your  senior.  Yet 
are  you  richer  by  nearly  half  a  century  of  experience  than  are 
we  ;  therefore  it  is  fitting  that  we  congratulate  you,  at  this  time, 
not  only  upon  the  attainment  of  so  venerable  an  age,  but  es- 
pecially upon  your  youthful  appearance  and  manifest  smartness 
in  spite  of  your  years.  Your  youthful  looks  and  activity  speak 
well  for  you.  They  tell  us  that  in  spite  of  advancing  age  you 
have  kept  the  heart  young  and  fresh.  You  have  apparently 
solved  the  mystery  of  the  heavenly  alchemy  whereby  it  is  made 
possible  to  transmute  advancing  age  into  perpetual  youth. 

We  congratulate  you  also  on  the  possession  of  a  good  name 
kept  untarnished  through  these  years.  Some  things  improve 
with  age.     An  honored  name  is  one  of  them. 

We  congratulate  you  again  upon  so  glorious  a  record  of  noble 
deeds.  The  years  that  reach  back  to  your  birth  are  freighted 
with  the  good  deeds  you  have  done.  Yet  not  all  the  good  you 
have  done  has  become  history.  No  mere  history  of  those  years 
can  tell  the  life  story  of  this  or  any  other  church. 

Once  more  we  wish  to  congratulate  you  upon  your  orthodoxy. 
To  place  the  name  "Presbyterian"  over  the  door  of  a  church  is  but 
another  way  of  saying,  "We  are  orthodox." 

Dear  mother,  we  are  proud  of  you.  Proud  because  you  are 
our  mother  :  proud,  because  of  your  achievements. 


i  28 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

For  all  this  and  much  more,  of  which  we  cannot  now  speak, 
we  bring  our  greetings  and  congratulations.  May  you  live  to 
round  out  another  150  years  as  useful  as  the  past  have  been,  is 
the  prayer  of  the  membership  of  the  Fourth  Religious  Society, 
your  daughter.  In  the  words  of  your  present  and  honored  pas- 
tor, on  the  occasion  of  our  own  anniversary,  let  me  close:  "Our 
churches  have  had  a  blended  history  in  the  past,  let  them  be 
blended  still  more  closely  in  the  future." 


FROM    THE  WHITEFIELD    CONGREGATIONAL  CHUCRH, 

BY    THE    PASTOR.    REV.   JOHN    H.    REID. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Members  and  Friends  of  the  Old  South 
Church  : 
1  bring  to  you  on  this,  your  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary, the  greetings  and  congratulations  of  your  youngest  daughter, 
the  Whitefield  church.  As  I  look  over  this  congregation  I  see  a 
large  number  of  mv  own  people,  which  testifies  to  the  deep  in- 
terest we  have  in  this  celebration,  and  I  am  sure  that  if  our  eyes 
were  opened,  as  were  the  eyes  of  the  young  man,  the  companion 
of  Elisha,  we  would  see  hovering  near  many  a  Whitefield  saint 
who  has  passed  within  the  veil.  It  is  said  that  "the  first  right 
of  a  child  is  to  be  born  well."  This  certainly  was  our  privilege. 
I  believe  in  blood  and  am  sure  the  Congregational-Presbyterian 
blood  that  flows  in  our  veins  is  the  very  best  to  make  good 
Christians.  I  will  not  say  that  God  sifted  the  Old  South  Church 
to  give  birth  to  her  youngest  daughter,  for  only  a  handful  came 
out,  but  the  men  who  founded  the  Whitefield  church  were  nur- 
tured by  their  mother  in  deep  piety  and  were  cedars  in  Lebanon. 
In  a   word  we   congratulate  you  upon  the  prophetic  character  of 

129 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

the  men  who,  during  all  these  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  have 
stood  in  this  pulpit  and  broken  the  truth  to  young  and  old  who 
have  met  here  for  worship.  They  were  men  who  daily  talked 
with  God  on  the  Mount,  so  that  Sunday  morning  when  thev 
came  before  the  people  their  faces  shone  with  a  divine  illumina- 
tion and  the  people  listened  as  for  life  or  death.  They  were 
men  of  intense  religious  patriotism,  and  as  God's  watchmen 
were  faithful  to  their  trust.  They  did  not  pass  lightly  over  the 
sins  of  their  day,  but  spoke  the  truth,  whether  men  would  hear 
or  forbear.  We  congratulate  you  upon  the  historic  character  of 
this  church.  There  are  churches  older,  but  we  live  in  deeds  not 
years,  and  I  am  sure  there  are  few  about  which  cluster  the  mem- 
ory and  association  of  so  many  great  events.  Yours  is  a  noble 
history  and  we  are  very  proud  of  our  mother,  the  Old  South 
Church. 

FROM    THE    NORTH    CHURCH. 

The  North  Congregational  Church,  though  neither 
our  "  mother  "  nor  "  daughter,"  has  always  been  "  as  a 
sister  to  us,"  and  its  pastor,  the  Rev.  Charles  P.  Mills, 
spoke  for  it,  but  more  especially,  and  by  request  of 
our  own  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  on  behalf  of 
that  organization  at  large.  His  remarks  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

We  bring  greeting  and  congratulation  to  this  fortunate  pastor 
who  heads  this  goodly  company  and  general  assembly  of  happy, 
rejoicing  people.  When  you  taste  him,  he  has  the  flavor,  and 
when  he  touches  you  he  burns  with  the  fervor  of  youth. 

i  3  o 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

We  rejoice  with  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  because  unto 
it  has  been  given  by  Divine  Providence  to  perform  a  most  signal 
event  that  seems  to  harmonize  very  fittingly  with  the  striking 
origin  of  this  church. 

You  are  the  fruit  of  the  labors  of  George  Whitefield,  a  pioneer 
from  across  the  sen,  and  you  have  been  a  church  of  sea  captains. 
What  appeal  it  makes  to  the  imagination  and  how  the  fitness  of 
things  appears  when  we  reflect  that  it  was  a  son'of  a  sea  captain, 
George  R.  Colby,  a  former  president  of  your  Christian  Endeavor 
Society,  who,  sailing  in  the  -  H.  G.  Johnson  "  commanded  by 
his  father  to  Australia,  imparted  to  G.  H.  Buzacott  in  Brisbane 
the  first  knowledge  of  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  that  was 
received  in  that  island  continent  beneath  the  Southern  Cross, 
where  it  has  met  with  a  favor  and  developed  with  a  force  not  ex- 
ceeded even  in  the  land  of  its  birth.  As  ye  have  been  planted, 
so  ve  have  sown,  and  even  more  bountifully. 

We  bring  greeting  to  the  Christian  Endeavorers  in  this  church 
because  you  are  the  promise  and  potency  of  the  future.  The 
sons  and  daughters  prophesy,  and  the  young  men  see  visions, 
and  the  old  men  given  up  to  reminiscences  yet  dream  dreams  of 
the  good  and  glory  to  come  through  you. 

The  young  people  who  have  received  the  heritage  of  the  past 
have  also  had  placed  in  their  hands  the  keys  of  the  future,  and 
we  bid  you  today  to  open  the  golden  gates  that  the  King  of 
Glory  may  come  into  this  church  through  your  radiant  and 
prophetic  lives. 


I31 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 
FROM    THE    Y.    M.    C.    A., 

BY  THE    GENERAL    SECRETARY,    WINFIELD    P.    PORTER. 

Mr.     Chairman,   Members    and    Friends  of  the    Old    South 
Church  : 

I  have  been  trying  to  grasp  something  of  the  meaning  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  all  the  activities  and  joys  and  sorrows 
of  a  single  day  multiplied  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  times  three 
hundred  and  sixty  five. 

I  love  to  think  of  the  Old  South  Church,  organized  for  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  and  of  its  church  building,  standing  for 
one  hundred  and  forty  years  like  a  sentinel  watching  against  the 
encroachment  of  the  foe,  like  a  fortress  whose  walls  have  beaten 
back  the  tides  of  sin  and  wretchedness.  I  love  to  think  of  the 
scores  and  hundreds  who  have  entered  these  doors  with  bur- 
dened hearts  and  fading  hopes,  who  have  gone  out  filled  with 
hope  and  burdens  lightened  after  listening  to  the  cheering  words 
which  have  fallen  from  this  Old  South  pulpit,  as  its  ministers 
have  spoken  forth  the  wonderful  truths  that  cluster  so  thickly 
around  the  old,  old  story. 

I  rejoice  to  stand  here  today,  and  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  ex- 
tend to  you  greetings  from  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion. I  have  been  pleased  this  very  day,  in  looking  over  the 
Association  records,  to  find,  under  the  date  of  April  20,  1S75, 
the  name  of  Rev.  W.  W.  Newell,  who  served  you  as  pastor 
from  1S74  to  18S0.  I  have  also  been  highly  gratified  to  learn 
that  he  always  took  a  deep  and  active  interest  in  the  Association, 
and  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  young  men. 

Last  Saturday  night,  in  less  than  one  hour,  by  actual  count, 
seven  hundred  and  fifty-four  visits  were  made  to  twelve  saloons 


132 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

of  this  city  by  men  whose  average  age  could  not  have  exceeded 
thirty  years. "  But  I  rejoice  that  where  fourteen  doors  are  open 
to  drag  men  down  there  is  at  least  one  building,  that  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  with  open  doors  and 
warmth  and  cheer  and  welcome,  to  help  men  up. 

I  know  that  you  will  rejoice  with  me  in  the  fact  that  today 
five  thousand  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  are  belting 
this  round  world  ;  that  in  five  thousand  towns  and  cities,  are  to  be 
found  these  Christian  Associations;  that  even  in  Jerusalem,  and 
over  against  the  way  called  Straight,  where  Saul  of  Tarsus  went 
down  To  Damascus,  you  will  find  a  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociation. It  is  a  representative  of  these  wide  reaching  and  in- 
fluential organizations  who  gives  you  warm  and  hearty  greeting. 
I  believe  in  the  Church  of  Christ  on  earth.  I  believe  in  the 
great  Presbyterian  wing  of  Christ's  army.  Were  not  these  be- 
liefs mine,  I  should  not  have  the  privilege  of  thus    extending 

greeting. 

Long  may  the  Old  South  church  endure,  until  every  church  and 
every  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  every  organization 
which  seeks5  to  raise  the  fallen  and  extend  the  cup  of  cold  water 
to  the  thirsty,  shall  join  in  one  magnificent  company,  under  the 
leadership  of  Him  who  is  Lord  of  Lords  and  King  of  Kings. 
And  now,  '  'forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind  ;"— is  that  it  ? 
I  think  not  under  the  circumstances,  but  rather,  rejoicing  in  and 
profiting  by  the  -Things  which  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth 
unto  those  things  which  are  before,"  let  us  -Press  toward  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus." 


133 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 


POETICAL  OFFERINGS. 


Several  poems,  sent  as  tributes  of  affection  for  the 
Old  South  Church,  were  read  by  Mrs.  David  Foss. 
Space  can  be  given  here  for  only  the  poem  by  Mrs. 
Haskell,  that  had  been  expressly  requested  for  the 
occasion  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  General  Com- 
mittee. Others  by  Rev.  W.  R.  Cochrane,  D.  D.,  Mr. 
Edward  D.  Pritchard,  and  Delevan  Knight  Carter, 
Esq.,  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to  this  volume. 


HOLY    MEMORIES    CLUSTER." 


An  Anniversary   Poem   by   Mrs.  Elizabeth   Kimball  Haskell, 
of  Baker,    Oregon. 

Holy  memories  cluster  round  thee, 

Ancient  church  in  sea-girt  town  : 
Generations  past  have  crowned  thee 

With  a  fadeless,  pure  renown. 

Ministering  at  thine  altar, 

Fearless  men  of  God  have  stood ; 
Men  who  would  not  shrink,  or  falter 

To  have  sealed  their  faith  with  blood. 


J34 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Fires  of  Sinai  here  have  kindled, 
Bolts  of  wrath  been  hurled  at  sin, 

Vain  ambitions  paled  and  dwindled 
As  the  perfect  light  shone  in. 

Sweet  as  rills  in  desert  places, 

Sounded  forth  the  gospel  call, 
Pardon,  peace  and  countless  graces 

Offered  full  and  free  to  all. 

Oh,  the  prayers  like  incense  lifted 

Through  the  opened  gates  of  Heaven  ! 

Clouds  of  doubt  and  anguish  rifted, 
Souls  new-born  and  sins  forgiven. 

Like  a  vision  now  appear, 

Forms  that  long  since  passed  away; 
Voices  sweet,  melodious,  clear, 

With  the  invisible  choir  today. 

Here  in  holy  convocation, 

Maid  and  matron,  sire  and  son, 

Sat  the  reverent  congregation, 
Worshipping  the  Triune  One. 

Hearts  that  thrilled  have  ceased  to  beat. 
Burning  lips  are  cold  and  dumb; 

Yet  are  heard  the  pilgrims'  feet, 
As  they  to  this  Mecca  come. 

Still  pursue  thy  sacred  mission, 

Grand  old  church,  our  love  and  pride! 

Call  the  sinner  to  contrition, 
Preach  a  Saviour  crucified. 

135 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Let  thy  heavenward-pointing  spire 

Lift  the  thought  of  men  above: 
Raise  the  flagging  purpose  higher, 

Fill  the  atmosphere  with  love. 

As  of  old  the  Master  goeth 

Through  his  church  with  eves  like  flame; 
He  thy  patient  labor  knoweth, 

All  thou  docst  in  His  name. 

Thus  the  heavenly  message  runneth. 

'Tis  the  Spirit  makes  it  known, 
Lnto  him  that  overcometh. 

Will  I  grant  to  share  my  throne. 


36 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


LETTERS  OF  CONGRATULATION. 


Numerous  messages  of  salutation  and  coneratula- 
tion  were  received  hum  all  parts  of  the  country, 
East,  \W-st.  North  and  South.  The  originals  will  be 
hound  up  in  a  special  volume  and  placed  with  our 
archives.  All  <,('  them  were  publicly  read  by  the 
Pastor;  by  Mr.  William  Binley,  the  clerk  of  the 
church:  or  by  Mr.  William  E.  Chase,  the  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Invitation.  Some  of  these  have 
been  abridged  and  others  are  printed  in  full,  while 
others  again  can  only  be  gratefully  mentioned ;  but 
all  were  prized  and  will  lie  treasured. 

FROM    THE    PRESBYTERY    OF    BOSTON. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Boston,  held  March 
30,  1890,  it  was  unanimously  voted,  by  a  rising  vote,  to  author- 
ize Rev.  Luther  11.  Angier,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Peter  M.  MacDon- 
ald,  D.  I).,  "to  convey  to  the  beloved  First  Church  of  New- 
buryport,  which  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  our  Presbytery,  as  well 
as  one  of  the  best  and  most  highly  honored,  our  heartfelt  con- 
gratulations   on    her  growth,  prosperity,  and    perseverance  amid 

13  7 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

a  century  and  a  half  of  arduous  labors  and  tempestuous  trials, 
for  the  sake  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Our 
prayer  is  that  century  after  century  may  be  added  to  your 
career,  till  the  Lord  shall  come  to   make  up   His   jewels." 

The  above  committee  did  their  duty,  and  the  above  resolution 
was  publicly  read  before  the  congregation  assembled. 


FROM    THE    OLDEST    CHURCH    IN    AMERICA. 

The  following  is  an  abridgment  of  a  greeting  read 
in  full  from  Christ  Church  at  Hempstead,  Long 
Island,  which  merits  the  honor  of  being  the  oldest 
church  of  our  denomination  in  America. 

Deai'   Brethren  : 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  the  members  of  this  historic  church, 
through  their  Pastor  and  elders,  congratulate  you  upon  the  be- 
nign Providence  of  God  that  has  vouchsafed  to  you  such  an  era 
of  glorious  achievements.  Our  churches  have  a  common  origin 
in  the  Puritanism  of  Old  and  New  England,  and  rejoice  in  an- 
cestors who  gave  its  ecclesiastical  and  civil  development  to  our 
Western  continent.  They  built  for  eternity,  as  well  as  for  time. 
Your  anniversary  celebration  lets  the  present  generation  see  the 
beginnings  of  life  in  this  country,  as  the  sun  lifts  the  fog,  show- 
ing objects  in  their  true  proportion  and  setting.  Your  venerable 
church  was  founded  and  kept  alive  regardless  of  indifferent 
friend  or  outspoken  foe. 

We  join  with  you  in  lauding  those  Puritans  who  were  Cal- 
vinistic  in  doctrine  and  Presbyterian  in  polity.  The  founder  of 
our  own  church  was  a  typical  Presbyterian  Puritan,  Rev. 
Richard  Denton,  a  pastor  in  Halifax,  England,  from  1623  to 
1630,  when  he  was  driven  away  by  the  animosity  of  the  Crown. 
He  was  in  New   England  till  1644,  when  he  and   his   flock   were 

13S 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

again  driven  out  and  found  a  permanent  home  in  Hempstead. 
Our  church  and  your  church  are  connected  with  the  beginnings 
of  American  civilization,  in  touch  with  the  process  that  made 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  the  United  States  Con- 
stitution possible.  May  the  struggles,  trials,  successes  and  vic- 
tories of  the  past  be  an  inspiration  to  you  for  the  days  to  come, 
so  that,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  both  pastor  and  people  may 
advance  the  good  work  begun  by  the  fathers,  and  bring  glory 
and  honor  to  the  cause  of  the  Master  and  the  name  of  our  be- 
loved Presbyterian  Church. 

Frank  Melville  Kerr,   Pastor, 
And  all  the  Elders. 


FROM  THE  "OLD  FIRST   OF  NEW  YORK. 

The  "Old  First"  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  city 
of  New  York  sends  greeting  to  the  "  Old  South  " 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
upon  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its 
organization : 

Beloved  Servants  of   Christ: 

We  congratulate  you  upon  that  kindly  Providence  which  has 
privileged  you  to  uphold  the  principles  of  our  common  faith 
and  order  upon  an  altar-spot  hallowed  by  the  consecrating  in- 
fluences of  a  century  and  a  half  of  worship.  We  rejoice  in 
your  joy  with  a  kinsfolk  gladness.  A  bond  of  kindred  exper- 
ience unites  us.  Like  you,  we  have  learned  the  worth  of  a 
legacy  of  storied  memories,  and  have  felt  the  thrilling  inspira- 
tions which  are  enkindled  by  a  venerable  spiritual  ancestry. 

From  out  your  home  circle,  one  and  another  has  entered  into 
the  fellowship  of  our  household,  enriching  us  with  benedictions 
of  Christian  force  and  grace  which  you  had  cultured. 

J3  9 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Moreover,  the  life  of  that  man  of  God,  George  Whitefield, 
above  whose  sacred  dust,  with  untiring  vigil  you  keep  ever 
burning  the  flame  of  a  reverential  memory,  rivets  your  Church 
and  ours  in  a  singular  intimacy. 

A  mighty  revival  issuing  from  the  ministry  of  Whitefield  was 
the  spring  of  our  prosperity.  He  smote  the  frowning  rocks 
which  challenged  the  advance  of  our  infant  church,  and  healing 
streams  gushed  forth,  which  to  this  day  yield  perennial  refresh- 
ing. A  heart  subduing  appeal  from  the  lips  of  Whitefield,  led 
a  lad  up  Calvary,  who  in  the  after  time  ministered  to  our  Church 
in  its  longest  pastorate,  and  made  the  name  of  John  Rodgers  an 
heirloom  of  American  Presbyterianism. 

It  is  with  an  heart  warm  and  with  unfeigned  earnestness, 
therefore,  that  we  invoke  in  your  he  half  the  favor  of  the  God 
of  the  Covenant. 

May  the  Shepherd  of  Israel,  who  has  guided  you  over  so  long 
and  shining  a  pathway  of  service,  Jead  you  on  into  a  future  of 
ever  widening  influence  in  maintaining  the  honor  of  His  name, 
and  in  the  bringing  of  His  great  grace  to  the  help  of  this 
needy  world. 

Howard  Duffield, 

Pastor  of  the  "  Old  First  "  Church. 

Eugene  McJimsey, 

Clerk  of  Session. 


FROM    THE    FOURTH    CHURCH    OF    NEW    YORK. 

The  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  York  City,  forty 
years  the  junior  of  the  "  Old  South,"  sends  loving  greeting  and 
sincere  congratulation  upon  the  auspicious  celebration  at  hand. 
You  have  made  grand  history,  and  we  are  sure  you  purpose  to 
keep  on  making  it ;  for  there  is  nothing  like  the  perseverance  of 
the  saints.  May  you  one  and  all  be  richly  blessed  in  Him  who  is 
the  same,  yesterday,  today  and  forever. 

In  behalf  of  the  Session, 

Joseph  D.  Kerr,  Pastor, 
i  40 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

FROM    THE    FIRST    CHURCH    OF    KANSAS    CITY. 
Dearly    Beloved    in    the    Lord: 

The  Session  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Kansas  City, 
Mo.,  moderated  by  the  Pastor,  in  behalf  of  the  congregation, 
sends  Christian  greetings.  We  congratulate  you  upon  the  oc- 
casion of  your  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  exist- 
ence of  your  organization.  May  the  blessing  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  Church  continue  to  rest  upon  you  and  prosper  one 
of  the  "  Mother  "  Presbyterian  churches  in  America.  The  Lord 
bless  thee  and  keep  thee  ;  the  Lord  make  His  face  to  shine  upon 
thee  and  be  gracious  unto  thee  ;  the  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance 
upon  thee  and  give  thee  peace. 

Signed  by  order  of  Session, 

P.  S.  Brown,  Senior  Elder. 


FROM    THE    FIRST    RELIGIOUS    SOCIETY. 

The  following  greeting  is  doubly  significant,  first, 
as  being  unique  of  its  kind  among  the  local  churches; 
and,  secondly,  because  it  is,  so  far  as  known,  the  only 
official  recognition  ever  given  by  this  "  Mother 
Church"  that  the  truant  daughter  was  worthy  of  re- 
gard. For  both  these  reasons  the  salutation  is 
acceptable  and  welcome. 

The  First  Religious  Society  of  Newburyport  sends  its  cordial 
greetings  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  on  this,  the  one  hun- 
dred and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  organization.  Being,  in  part 
at  least,  an  offshoot  of  this  Church,  we  congratulate  our  eldest 
daughter  on  the  good  work  accomplished  in  the  past,  and  trust 
that  in  aiding  to  build  up  the  Kingdom  of    God  upon  earth   in 

141 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

the  future,  her  success  may  be  still  more  marked.  Your  history 
is  one  of  which  you  may  well  feel  proud,  interwoven  as  it  is 
with  that  of  the  Town,  the  State  and  the  Nation,  in  all  the  great 
movements  for  the  advancement  of  mankind  for  the  past  century 
and  a  half. 

May  that  love  of  God  which  animates  Christianity  unite  us  all 
in  working  for  that  "Peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men,'' 
emphasized  as  it  is  at  this  Easter  season,  until  there  is  established 
upon  this  earth  a  veritable  brotherhood  of  all  mankind. 
For  and  in  behalf  of  the  Society, 

H.   B.   Little, 

H.  E.  Lunt,  ^-Committee. 

A.   VV.  Greenleaf. 

Newburyport,  Mass.,  April  6th,  1S96. 


FROM    THE    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY. 

The  Historical  Society  of  Old  Newbury  would  tender  its  con- 
gratulations to  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Newburyport, 
(the  "Old  South  Church")  upon  the  very  successful  celebration 
of  its  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary,  and  would  express 
the  confident  trust  that 

"  It's  work  of  tongue  and  pen, 
It's  love  of  God  and  men," 

will  in  coming  time  be  still' more  worthy  the  respect  and  honor 
of  the  community  than  it  has  been  in  the  past. 

In  behalf  of  the  Society, 

Emily  A.  Getchell,  Secretary. 


FROM    REV.    BREVARD    D.    SINCLAIR. 

The  following  greeting,  dated  at  Charlotte,  N.  C, 
April  3rd,  1896,  and  addressed  to  the  Committee  on 

142 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Invitation,  is  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  three  living 
pastors  who  have  served  this  Church,  and  it  is  ac- 
cordingly printed  in  full: 

Dear  Brethren : 

Your  invitation  to  be  present  on  the  occasion  of  the  one  hun- 
dred and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  completed  organization  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Newburyport,  Mass.,  has  just 
been  received,  having  been  forwarded  to  me  from  my  home  in 
Placerville,  Cal.  The  fact  of  my  absence  from  my  home  will 
account  for  this  tardy  response  to  your  invitation  to  be  present 
with  you  on  that  occasion.  I  regret  exceedingly  my  inability  to 
be  with  you  and  the  dear  people  of  my  former  church  and  parish 
on  that  memorable  anniversary.  Nothing  but  circumstances 
over  which  I  have  no  control  prevents  my  participation  in  the 
love-feast  which  I  sincerely  pray  God  will  be  indulged  in  then 
by  the  descendants  and  successors  of  the  elect  and  heroic  found- 
ers of  the  Old  South  Church. 

For  the  past  few  days  I  have  been  in  attendance  in  this  vicinity 
upon  the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  Concord  Presbytery  in 
the  synod  of  North  Carolina.  The  meetings  were  held  in  a 
Presbyterian  church  which  completed  its  organization  in  1736. 
Although  not  immediately  founded  by  George  Whitefield,  still 
the  influence  of  his  masterful  heart  and  revival  fervor  greatly 
affected  it  from  its  birth.  As  I  sat  in  this  assembly,  and  heard 
the  addresses,  the  biographies,  and  the  sketches  of  these  pastors 
and  churches  of  blessed  memory  in  my  native  state  and  county 
(all  of  whom  were  greatly  influenced,  quickened,  nurtured  and 
sustained  by  the  great  Whitefield)  my  heart  consciously  returned 
to  the  church  of  Federal  street,  beneath  whose  pulpit  repose  his 
sacred  bones,  and  in  whose  walls  I  was  permitted  to  break  with 
you  one  and  all  the  bread  of  life  and  preach  to  you  the  same 
Gospel  which  Whitefield  thundered  from  Newburyport  to 
Georgia.        As  one  by  one  the   biographies  of   ministers  of  this 

M3 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

region  in  the  colonial  days  were  read,  it  thrilled  my  heart  to  hear 
it  said  of  many  of  them  that  they  had  been  brought  out  of  dark- 
ness into  light,  comforted  in  their  affliction  and  inspired  with 
holy  zeal  by  the  man  who,  under  God,  was  the  spiritual  father 
of  the  Old  South  Church. 

The  old  theological  controversy  which  was  waged  in  New 
England  between  the  "  New  Side"  under  Whitefield  and  the 
"  Old  Side  "  on  the  part  of  the  silurian  ecclesiasticism  of  the 
eighteenth  century  I  found  was  also  carried  on  here  in  the 
churches  of  my  native  land,  and  reminded  me  of  that  separation 
from  the  First  Congregational  Parish  of  Newbury,  Mass., 
which  caused  Jonathan  Parsons  to  be  its  first  pastor  and  honored 
me  by  making  me  the  twelfth. 

Nothing  would  so  rejoice  my  heart  as  to  be  present  with  you, 
my  beloved  brethren,  the  Pastor,  the  people  of  the  church,  the 
parish,  your  children,  the  venerable  Dr.  Vermilye  (who  shares 
with  me  the  honor  of  being  surviving  pastor)  and  the  friends, 
neighbors  and  kindred,  who  will  with  you  mingle  the  congrat- 
ulations and  the  thanksgivings  of  the  past  with  the  hopes  of  the 
future. 

God  has  vouchsafed  to  you  a  noble  history,  a  precious  heri- 
tage and  an  immortal  name.  The  Gospel  which  George  White- 
field,  Jonathan  Parsons  and  the  pastors  of  the  Old  South  have 
preached,  and  its  people  have  loved  and  believed  for  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years,  is  the  Gospel  which  Paul  preached,  Augus- 
tine defended,  Luther  reformed  and  Whitefield  revived. 

"  The  honors  of  a  name  'tis  just  to  guard; 
They  are  a  trust  but  lent  us,  which  we  take, 
And  should  in  reverence  to  the  donor's  fame, 
With  care  transmit  them  down  to  other  hands." 

I  beseech  you,  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God, 
that  while  you  are  as  liberal  as  the  love  of  God,  you  may  be 
as  conservative  as  His  word,  and  that  you  and  your  children  and 
your  children's  children  may  as  faithfully  enshrine  in  the  century 

144 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

to  come  the  faith  of  Whitefield  as  you  have  securely  safeguarded 
in  the  past  the  mortal   relics  of  the  great  preacher. 

I  would  affectionately  urge    you    also    to    the    catholicity    of 
George  Whitefield,   whose  heart  embraced  two  continents  and 
upon  whom  came  daily  the  care  of  the  churches   from   Georgia 
to  New  England.     As  I  pen  these  words,  I  am   writing   on  the 
spot    where,    when    the    Presbyterian    people    of    Mecklenburg 
County    N.  C,  received  the  news  that  the  British  "  had  inhu- 
manly shed  the  blood  of  American  patriots  at  Lexington,"  they  is- 
sued the  first  Declaration  of  American  Independence,  in  response 
to    that    Christian    and    fraternal     sentiment,    which    animated 
the  founders  of  our  beloved  Presbyterian  church  in  America,  and 
fitted  its  members  to  march  to  Bunker  Hill  at  the  drum-beat  ot 
Christian   patriotism  and  muster  at  King's  Mountain,  Cowpens 
and  Yorktown.       And  it  was  George  Whitefield  who  brough 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  bear  upon  the  life  of  the  great 
Rev.  Alexander  Craighead  of  this  place,  by  which  he  moulded 
the    character    of    the    Presbyterian  patriots    of    the    colony    in 
North  Carolina,   who    issued  the    Mecklenburg    Declaration    ot 

Independence.  . 

Of  Craighead  it  was  said  that  »  he  laid  the  egg  that    set  the 
hen,  that  hatched  the  cock,  that  crowed  on  the   morn  ot    May 

the  20th,  1 775-"  „_„ 

Surrounded  by  these  historic  reminiscences  you  can  pei- 
ceive  that  I  am  keenly  in  touch  and  sympathy  with  your  trans- 
actions of  April  the  7th,  .896.  For  nearly  five  years  your  pas- 
tor having  been  welcomed  in  your  homes,  mingling  my  tears 
with  yours  in  the  hour  of  sorrow  and  bereavement,  rejoicing 
with  you  as  you  rejoiced,  baptising  your  children  and  burying 
your  dead,  I  "shall  ever  cherish  for  you  all  the  fondest  aftecfon 
"  There  will  be  at  your  anniversary  vacant  chairs;  there  will 
will  not  be  heard  the  sound  of  voices  which  I  loved  once  to 
hear  Some  of  your  number  have  put  off  this  mortal  that  they 
might  put  on  immortality.  These  reflections  awaken  in  me 
mingled    emotions    of  joy    and    sorrow,  and    make    me  content 


145 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

to  be  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  you  all  as  I 
recall  the  pain  I  would  feel  by  reason  of  the  absent  faces  and 
hushed  voices  of  your  beloved  dead. 

In  conclusion  let  me  congratulate  you  upon  the  completion  of 
the  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  your  church  history,  and  let  me 
urge  you  in  the  words  of  Dryden  : 

"  Do  then  as  jour  progenitors  have  done, 
And  by  your  virtues  prove  yourself  their  son." 

Will  you  read  for  me  as  my  message  to  you  from  the  Word 
of  God,  Philippians  IV,  from  the  seventh  to  the  ninth  verse. 
With  fondest,  faithful  regard. 

Affectionately  yours  in  Christ  Jesus, 

Brevard  D.  Sinclair. 


FROM    BISHOP    CLARK. 

To    the    Pastor     and    Members    of  the    First    Presbyterian 
Church  : 

I  have  promised,  whenever  I  had  the  strength  given  me,  to 
write  a  few  words  of  congratulation  on  the  occasion  of  the  one 
hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Federal  Street  Church. 
More  than  eighty  years  have  passed  since  I  sat  on  the  little  cricket 
in  my  father's  pew  and  listened  to  the  tones  of  good  Dr.  Dana's 
voice  as  he  addressed  his  people  from  the  pulpit. 

The  church  edifice  in  those  days  had  a  very  different  appearance 
from  the  structure  which  now  accommodates  the  congregation. 
I  wish  that  it  could  be  reproduced  for  a  day  or  two  during  the 
present  commemorative  services.  Every  feature  of  the  old 
building  is  distinct  in  my  memory — the  lofty  roof,  the  white- 
washed walls — the  projecting  beams — the  uncurtained  windows 
— the  uncarpeted  aisles,  (crossing  and  re-crossing  each  other,) 
— the   pews   unpainted,   excepting  a    few  occupied  by  the  richer 

i  46 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

people, — unique  chandelier  (the  like  of  which  was  never  seen  in 
any  other  building,)  the  wonderful  pulpit  surmounted  by  the 
formidable  sounding  board, — the  square  pew  below,  where  the 
aged  men  sat  and  dozed  during  the  sermon,  the  narrow  enclosure, 
in  front,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Deacons  : — (good  Deacon 
Moody,  I  can  see  him  so  distinctly  with  his  placid  and  reverend 
face  and  closed  eves — and  Deacon  Beck  with  the  huge  trumpet 
in  his  ear) — the  semi-circular  Communion  table  which  hung  on 
its  hinges  excepting  during  the  administration  of  the  Sacrament 
— there  is  to  my  mind  a  special  charm  in  the  recollection  of  this 
venerable  building. 

I  have  only  a  faint  remembrance  of  Dr.  Dana's  ministry,  but  I 
well  recollect  how  my  mother  wTept  on  the  day  when  he  preached 
his  farewell  sermon.  He  was  a  man  of  rare  accomplishments — 
a  holy  man,  whose  presence  inspired  one  with  awe. 

Dr.  Dana's  successor,  the  Rev.  Samuel  P.  Williams,  was  a 
very  remarkable  preacher  and,  young  as  I  was,  his  sermons 
made  a  strong  impression  upon  my  mind. 

I  can  never  forget  one  of  his  impressive  discourses  entitled 
"Funeral  Sermons  to  the  Living."  He  never  faltered  in  the  ut- 
terance of  his  convictions,  and  I  remember  one  of  the  striking 
sentences,  in  which  his  sermons  abounded:  "None  but  Al- 
mighty God  can  create  a  soul,  but  any  fool  can  destroy  one." 
He  died  early,  although  he  seemed  to  me  an  old  man,  and  the 
occasion  of  his  funeral,  with  the  sable  drapery  of  the  pulpit — 
the  solemn  music  of  "The  Dead  March,  in  .Saul,"  the  great 
sermon  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Withington,  the  array  of  Clergy  and 
the  crowded  congregation  left  an  impression  upon  me  which 
can  never  be  effaced. 

According  to  the  custom  of  the  day,  all  the  ministers  in  the 
town  took  their  turn  in  giving  a  Sunday  service  after  his  death, 
the  salary  continuing^  in  the  meantime  for  the  benefit  of  the 
widow. 

Dr.  Andrews  of  the  Pleasant  Street  church  came  first,  as  the 
oldest  minister,   and   next  Dr.   Morss  of  St.    Paul's  appeared  in 


1  4  7 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

full  costume,  gown,  cassock  and  bands,  after  the  style  of  the 
day,  and  read  a  portion  of  the  Episcopal  service  before  the  ser- 
mon. It  may  not  be  known  to  all  that  the  folio  pulpit  Bible  in 
the  Federal  Street  Church  which  I  presume  is  still  in  use,  con- 
tains the  Church  of  England  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

Mr.  Williams  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Proudfit  and 
the  church  was  remodeled,  to  suit  our  modern  notions  of  utility 
and  convenience.  At  the  period  of  which  I  write,  the  congre- 
gation was  very  large,  comprising  a  great  number  of  the  most 
respectable  people  of  the  town,  whom  I  can  recall  today  with 
very  great  distinctness — but  they  have  all  passed  away  and  their 
voices  are  silent  now. 

There  were  many  saintly  disciples  worshiping  in  the  old 
Church  who  now  rest  in  Paradise. 

God  grant  that  those  who  now  occupy  their  places  may  follow 
their  good  example — trusting  to  the  mercy  and  love  of  the  same 
Saviour  upon  whom  they  relied  alone  for  their  Salvation. 

If  I  had  the  strength  I  would  be  glad  to  continue  these    remi- 
nisences  at  greater  length,  and  with  my  sincere  congratulations  to 
the  Pastor  and  people  of  this  ancient    parish, 
I  remain  very  affectionately  yours, 

Thomas  M.  Clark. 

Providence,  R.  I.,  February  7th,   1S96. 


FROM    REV.    GEORGE    H.    CLARK,    D.    D. 

To  the    Committee  on   Invitation : 

The  memories  of  my  boyhood  in  the  Old  Presbyterian  Church 
are  of  the  sweetest  kind,  and  of  late  years  sitting  in  my  study, 
under  a  picture  of  our  Newburyport  home,  I  have  often  mused 
for  the  half  hour,  on  the  dear  old  town  and  the  dear  old  church 
and  the  dear  ones  who  are  gone. 

What  pictures  are  before  me  now  !  I  can  see  (seventy  years 
ago)  Mr.  Williams  solemnly  moving  down  Federal  street  for  the 

14S 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

morning  service,  but  cannot  recall  his  sermons,  which,  however, 
when  a  man,  I  read  with  more  than  common  interest. 

Mr.  Proudfit  seemed  as  one  of  our  family.  Of  him  and  of 
his  father  (of  Salem,  N.  Y.)  I  have  most  agreeable  recollections. 
The  aged  father  when  visiting  in  our  house  on  Green  street  made 
me  learn  the  Psalm,  "  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd." 

Mr.  Stearns  was  a  kind,  good  and  able  man,  but  he  intimated 
from  the  pulpit  too  often  that  his  life  would  probably  be  a  short 
one  ;  that  is  the  only  thing  which  1  remember  of  his  preaching. 
The' fact  that  he  lived  to  an  old  age  probably  kept  his  dismal 
announcement  before  me.  The  old  church  building  altered  in 
1S29  I  distinctly  remember.  Our  pew  in  it  was  the  left  hand 
back  one  at  the  Federal  street  entrance,  and  we  could  see  from 
that  point  all  that  was  going  on.  Mr.  Fitz  who  sat  in  front,  an 
old  gentleman,  was,  for  some  forgotten  reason,  my  constant 
study.  Our  Sexton  I  looked  on  with  awe,  and  in  the  winter 
time  with  great  interest.  I  can  see  him  now  marching  one-third 
of  the  way  up  the  "broad  aisle"  puffing  his  breath  into  the  air 
in  order  to  ascertain  if  the  heat  was  sufficient.  It  was  not.  His 
breath  was  usually  seen,  and  cold  feet  had  to  be  kept  cold  until 
they  could  be  got  back  to  a  wood  fire  on  the  hearth  at  home. 

That  change  of  1829  in  the  edifice  was  a  great  event.  For  a 
time  in  our  house  it  put  talk  of  the  war  of  1812  and  its  disas- 
trous results,  "French  claims"  and  common  business  matters, 
quite  aside.  When  the  brazen  numbers  for  the  pews  reached 
the  town  by  the  mail  stage  I  was  highly  excited.  Those  sponge- 
like ornaments  on  the  ceiling  above  the  chandelier  were  my  fre- 
quent study. 

The  ponderous  Whitefield  monument  stands  now  fixed  in  my 
memory.  After  1S29  our  pew  was  near  the  pulpit.  It  was  a 
^ood  pew,  but  for  me  too  near  the  coffins  under  it.  The  custom 
of  turning  round  on  the  singing  of  one  hymn,  face  to  the  sing 
ers  -ave  opportunity  of  seeing  those  who  sat  behind  us,  and 
was  "compensation  for  the  loss  of  the  old  pew.  My  revered 
o-randfather,  Abraham  Wheelwright,  occupied  a  pew  in  front  of 


149 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

us,  and  his  brother  Ebenezer  sat  two  or  three  pews  back  of  us. 
Near  him  (in  the  pew  with  him,  I  think)  was  Mr.  William 
Bartlet,  who  did  so  much  for  the  Andover  Seminary.  My  in- 
terest in  Mr.  Bartlet  arose  from  the  fact  that  he  had,  if  my 
memory  fails  not,  14  buttons  on  his  waistcoat;  a  garment  now 
reduced  in  size  and  called  vest. 

Mr.  James  Caldwell  was  in  the  pew  behind  us  ;  he  was  a  good 
man  and  my  Sunday  school  teacher.  In  pews  near  us  were 
Miss  Hannah  F.  Gould,  and  many  other  noble  women,  and  men 
not  a  few,  who  were  prominent  in  the  town.  Mr.  George  Lunt, 
Capt.  Gushing,  Capt.  Simpson,  Mr.  Wills,  Mr.  Pettingell,  Caleb 
Gushing  with  his  finely  cut  and  thoughtful  face.  The  church 
was  full  and  seats  were  occupied  in  the  galleries. 

In  all  my  experience  I  have  never  seen  in  any  parish  a  nobler 
company  of  women  than  those  who  worshipped  in  the  new  edi- 
fice between  the  years  1830  and  1835.  Some  of  them  were  real 
saints;  beautiful  in  their  lives  and  character;  and  among  them 
was  my  precious  mother. 

The  old  chapel  must  not  be  forgotten.  Missionary  and  other 
meetings  I  attended  in  it,  and  it  fell  to  me  sometimes  to  count 
the  collections,  Spanish  coin  clipped,  perforated,  often  worn 
smooth,  which  my  father  took  home  for  the  missionaries. 

Sixty-one  years  have  gone  since  I  left  my  early  home,  but  now 
I  can  truly  say  that   I   am   thankful   that  Newburyport   was  my 
birthplace,  and  that  my  earliest  training  was  so  closely  connected 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church  on  Federal  street. 
Very  truly   yours, 

George  H.  Clark. 

Hartford,  Conn.,  March  5th,  1S96. 


FROM    REV.    JOHN    PIKE,    D.    D. 

To    the    Committee  on   Invitation  : 

Your  letter  of  January    18th    saying    that    the    "Old    South" 
Church,  of  my  native  city,  was  to  celebrate  its  150th  anniversary 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

and  asking  me  to    send    a  few    lines    of    fraternal    greeting    has 
awakened  many  interesting  memories. 

I  was  at  once  carried  back  to  the  early  years  of  the  century 
when,  as  a  very  little  boy,  I  ran  down  Federal  street  to  the 
church  and  into  the  gallery  where  my  father  was  leader  of  the 
choir.  He  took  me  in  his  arms  and  wrapping  me  within  his 
cloak  held  me  until  the  close  of  the  service.  The  love  there  be- 
gotten for  the  dear  old  Federal  Street  Church  has  grown  with 
every  passing  year  of  my  life.  I  was  early  taken  into  its  fold, 
and  it  continued  my  church  home  for  many  years.  How  vividly 
come  to  mind  at  this  time  good  Deacon  Moody  and  Mary  C. 
Greenleaf— saints  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy— and  a 
score  of  others,  some  of  whom  were  my  beloved  kindred. 

For  their  blessed  memory  and  that  of  all  the  faithful  who  have 
won  the  crown— for  your  present  and  for  your  future,  I  join 
with  you  in  giving  thanks  to  God,  the  giver  of  all  things. 

Your    brother  in  Christ, 

John  Pike. 

Rowley,  March  16,   1896. 


FROM    REV.    ALEXANDER    PROUDFIT,    D.    D. 

Beloved  Brethren  : 

I  regret  that  I  cannot  attend  your  anniversary  celebration. 
Although  my  father  had  ceased  to  be  its  pastor  when  I  was  born, 
he  was  never  weary  of  speaking  of  the  church  he  loved  so  well. 
As  often  as  possible  he  visited  Newburyport,  and  on  several  oc- 
casions took  me  with  him.  The  names  of  its  older  members 
were  familiar  to  me  ;  some  of  them  were  our  guests  ;  more  than 
once  have  I  enjoyed  their  hospitality,  and  spoken  in  the  pulpit 
beneath  which  repose  the  remains  of  the  prince  of  evangelists. 
Often,  when  my  father  revisited  your  city,  even  for  a  night,  word 
would  be  passed  around,  the  bell  would  be  rung,  and  an  audience 
would  gather  to  hear  him  preach.     His  friends  there  were  dear 

I51 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

to  him  to  the  close  of  life,  and  I  doubt  not  their  intercourse  has 
been  renewed,  never  to  be  broken,  in  our  Father's  House  on 
high.  The  Psalmist  says:  "Instead  of  thy  fathers  shall  be  thy 
children,  whom  thou  mayest  make  princes  in  all  the  earth."  So 
God  perpetuates  his  people  ;  so  Christ  perpetuates  his  church. 
May  God  fulfill  this  promise  to  the  dear  Old  First  Church  in  all 
the  generations  to  come. 

Yours  in  Christ, 

Alexander  Proudfit. 
Springfield,  Ohio,  April  3rd,  1896. 


FROM    HON.    SARGENT    P.    STEARNS. 

To  the  Com?nittee  on  Invitation  : 

I  express  my  very  great  regret  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to 
attend  the  exercises  connected  with  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  organization  of  the  "Old  South  Church." 

My  father  was  its  pastor  when  the  hundredth  anniversary  was 
celebrated  fifty  years  ago,  and  I  wish  I  could  be  present  now  to 
renew  the  many  tender  memories  and  associations  the  occasion 
will  suggest,  and  in  his  name  and  speaking  as  I  know  he  would 
do  if  he  were  living,  attempt  to  express  something  of  the  affec- 
tion, and  interest,  and  pride  he  felt  in  the  Church  and  its  people 
to  the  last  days  of  his  life,  and  the  wish  and  confident  hope  that 
the  prosperity  and  usefulness  which  have  made  the  Old  South 
Church  so  conspicuous  among  the  churches  of  New  England 
may  broaden  and  deepen  and  grow  more  beneficent  through  the 
coming  century. 

I  would  like  to  have  told  them  on  my  own  account  that 
I  have  never  ceased,  no  one  of  my  father's  blood  can  ever  cease, 
to  appreciate  and  be  grateful  for  the  touching  tribute  they  so 
spontaneously  and  generously  paid  to  my  father's  memory  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 


*5 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Trusting  that  the  celebration  may  be,  as  I  doubt  not  it  will,  a 
great  success,  and  with  assurance  of  my  kindest  regards,  believe 
me 

Very  truly  yours, 

Sargent  P.  Stearns. 
Washington,  D.  C,  April  5th,   1896. 


FROM    REV.    J.    D.    KINGSBURY,    D.    D. 

To  the    Committee  on  Invitation  : 

I  deeply  regret  that  my  duties  are  such  that  it  is  not  possible 
for  me  to  accept  the  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  most  interesting 
anniversary  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 

I  rejoice  that  you  will  remember  together  all  the  way  the 
good  Lord  has  led  you  through  these  centuries. 

The  early  history  of  the  Church  was  marked  by  the  wonder- 
ful baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  story  of  the  years  that 
have  followed  has  been  the  story  of  the  love  of  God. 

I  love  to  think  of  the  noble  line  of  godly  men  who  have 
served  in  the  pastorate. 

I  take  great  delight  in  the  memory  of  the  vast  number  of 
men  and  women  who  have  walked  together  in  love  and  who 
have  served  the  kingdom  of  God  and  have  now  entered  into 
rest. 

I  have  large  hope  for  the  years  to  come. 

The  benedictions  of  the  past  will  rest  on  the  church.  The 
good  Father  in  heaven  will  still  bless  and  keep  his  children. 
Under  the  wise  leadership  of  the  present  pastor  the  church  is  to 
accomplish  great  good. 

Heaven  bless  you  dear  brother  and  the  church  of  your  love. 

Affectionately  ever, 

J.  D.  Kingsbury. 
Bradford,  Mass.,  April  4,  1S96. 

*53 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

FROM    DR.    WISHARD,    OF    UTAH. 

Dear  Classmate  and  Brother: 

Greeting  to  the  noble  Church  of  which  you  are  the  honoi-ed 
Pastor,  and  to  which  I  am  greatly  indebted,  through  one  of  its 
Christian  women,  to  whom,  next  to  my  own  mother,  I  owe 
more  than  to  any  other  person.  Her  name  was  Miss  Maria 
Titcomb,  the  daughter  of  an  old  ship-builder,  and  away  back  in 
the  forties,  she  married  an  Andover  student  named  P.  S.  Cleland. 
In  those  days  Andover  had  a  reputation  for  solid  things  as  far 
west  as  our  Hoosier  state.  It  then  belonged  to  the  Church  on 
earth,  and  had  not  attained  its  present  etherial  altitude.  The 
young  minister,  with  the  treasure  Xewburyport  gave  him,  mi- 
grated to  Indiana,  and  did  mission  work  at  Greenwood,  without 
the  aid  of  anv  Home  Missionarv   Board. 

My  introduction  to  them  was  when  I  put  a  load  of  hay  in  the 
mow  for  the  missionary's  horse.  The  kindlv  words  of  the 
Yankee  woman  so  touched  the  heart  of  the  farmer-bov  that  it 
nearly  thumped  the  buttons  off  his  jacket.  A  little  later  she 
loaned  me  books  that  gave  tone  to  my  Christian  life  in  its  earliest 
development.  At  the  right  moment  she  put  in  my  hands  Dr. 
Plumer's  "Call  to  the  Ministry,"  and  it  was  indeed  a  call,  and  I 
said,  "Here  am  I.  send  me." 

I  can  recall  another  touch  from  vour  seashore  city,  when 
plodding  my  way  through  Wabash  College.  I  was  boarding 
myself  at  the  rate  of  forty  cents  a  week,  and  had  given  my  last 
••rip-penny  bit"  into  the  contribution-box.  and  was  wondering 
whence  the  next  would  come  ;  when  a  letter  arrived  from  Mis. 
Cleland  with  ten  dollars  as  a  gift  from  a  friend  in  Xewburvport, 
a  maiden  lady,  and  that  made  my  fortune  to  the  end  of  the  term 
with  the  help  of  your  father's  woodpile  and  saw-buck.  At  the 
close  of  my  middle  year  at  Lane  Seminary,  I  had  occasion  to  go 
to  Boston  with  Mrs.  Cleland,  who  was  on  her  way  to  visit  her 
aged  father,  and  under  her  escort  I  visited  vour  church  and  city, 
not   suspecting  that    my   classmate  would    now   be    ministering 

'54 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

where  Whitefield  preached,  while  I  am  out  here  in  Utah  ham- 
mering away  on  the  infamous  system  of  Mormonism. 

Let  me  congratulate  your  people  on  their  long  and  noble  his- 
tory, and  on  the  noble  stand  for  truth  which  they  have  ever 
maintained.  Not  less  are  they  to  be  congratulated  on  the  noble 
men  and  women  whom  they  have  given  to  the  West.  The  faces 
that  greet  me  every  morning,  as  I  arise  and  go  forth  for  service, 
are  those  of  the  once  Miss  Titcomb  and  her  husband,  Dr.  Cle- 
land.  Last  autumn  I  picked  an  evergreen  sprig  from  their  graves 
at  Topeka,  Kansas. 

May    I  also  congratulate  you,  my  classmate,    on  the  blessed 

fact  that  your  life  has  been  spared  through   the   years  of  toil   the 

Master  has  permitted  you  to  enjoy.     Our  paths    have  diverged, 

yet  the  divergence  has  been  only  seemingly,  for  the  roads  travelled 

by  all  believers  lead  to  the  City  of  God,  where  I  trust  we  may 

meet  again. 

Yours  as  ever, 

Samuel  E.  Wishard. 
Ogdex,  Utah,  March  24,  1S96. 


FROM    DR.    LITTLE,    OF    TEXAS. 

To  the    Committee  on  Invitation  : 

I  am  heartily  glad  of  your  anniversary.  In  1640  George 
Little  settled  in  Newburyport.  His  son  Tristram  was  the  father 
of  Enoch,  and  my  grandfather  was  Enoch's  son.  Enoch  married, 
June  5th,  1759,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Hovey. 
It  is  not  vain  to  have  in  one's  veins  a  vane  with  such  a  pointing, 
nor  is  it  vain  to  be  proud  of  such  veins,  and  to  strive  to  make 
them  vanes  indicating  a  useful  life.  There  was  something  pro- 
phetic in  the  conversion  of  Enoch  Little,  as  he  clung  to  the  rail- 
ing of  the  pulpit  of  your  church.  He  was  eleven  years  old,  and 
Whitefield  was  preaching.  Most  of  his  descendents  were  con- 
verted  in  childhood,  and  received  a  revival  type  of  piety.     My 

155 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

father  and  uncle  Jacob  when  they  spent  their  last  day  to- 
gether counted  over  their  nephews  and  nieces,  forty-four  in  all. 
Two  of  them  were  not  Christians.  They  spent  a  day  in  prayer 
for  those  two,  and  they  were  converted.  Afterwards  my  father, 
a  man  of  practical  faith  told  me,  "And  there  was  one  more  that 
we  forgot,  what  a  pity!"  It  was  a  voice  from  out  the  old-time 
church.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  drilled  his  voice  in  a  valley 
where  there  were  three  echoes,  and  so  your  grand  old  Church 
drilled  its  piety  under  conditions  of  great  formalism,  but  its  im- 
pression belts  the  globe.  My  greetings  to  your  pastor,  of  whom 
I  am  a  former  pupil  and  a  life-long  friend,  and  to  the  aged 
church  of  which  he  has  the  pastoral  care. 

Henry  S.  Little, 
Dennison,  Texas,  Feb.  29th  1896. 


FROM    OTHER    FRIENDS. 

Rev.  William  A.  McCorkle,  D.  D.,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  and 
formerly  pastor  of  the  Springfield  Street  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Boston,  sent  a  message  of  congratulation  to  the  Church, 
and  of  affectionate  greeting  to  the  pastor,  reminding  Dr.  Hovey 
of  the  time  when  he,  as  a  boy,  was  in  Dr.  McCorkle's  Sunday 
school  class  at  Crawfordsville,  Indiana.  He  spoke  also  of 
some  of  the  features  of  controversy  between  Old  School  and 
New  School  Presbyterianism.  His  letter  was  made  peculiarly 
touching  by  the  fact  that  it  was  among  the  last  he  ever  penned ; 
his  death  occurring  about  a  fortnight  later. 

His  Honor,  Andrew  R.  Curtis,  the  Mayor  of  the  city, 
conveyed  to  us  his  regrets  at  not  being  able  to  accept  our  invita- 
tion to  take  some  part  in  the  social  festivities  and  to  enjoy  the 
public  exercises. 

Three  of  the  city  pastors  who  had  been  invited  to  fill  places 
on  the  program,  were  unable  to  do  so  and  sent  their  regrets, 
namely  Rev.  John  W.  Ward,  of  the  People's  Methodist  Episcopal 

1  ;6 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Church,  Rev.  R.  E,  Bisbee,  of  the  Washington  Street  Methodist 
Episcopal   Church   and    Rev.   H.   H.   Churchill,  of  the  Advent 

Church. 

Among  the  distinguished  guests  present  was  Mrs.  Octavia  W. 
Richardson,  and  messages  came  from  Mrs.  Durfee,  Mrs. 
Newell  and  Mrs.  Wallace,  ladies  whose  husbands  were  formerly 
pastors  of  this  church.  Hon.  George  F.  Stone,  of  Chicago, 
Capt.  Moses  J.  Mulliken,  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Merchant,  Miss  Marga- 
ret M.  Stone,  Miss  Sarah  M.  Stone,  and  Mrs.  Waldo  B.  Smith, 
all  of  this  city,  and  all  descendents  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons, 
the  first  pastor  of  our  Church,  sent  greetings  and  also  attended 
the  exercises.  Mrs.  Lvdia  C.  Tucker  and  Miss  Ada  X.  Tucker, 
daughter  and  great  grand-daughter  of  Dr.  Daniel  Dana,  another 
honored  pastor,  were  among  the  guests  of  the  occasion,  being 
also  members  of  this  Church. 

Thus    every  pastor,   from  the  very   first,   except  Mr.  Murray 
and    Mr.   Williams,  was  in    some    manner    represented    at    our 

Anniversary. 

Numerous  absent  members  of    this  Church  remembered  the 
occasion  and  sent  their  messages  of  affectionate  salutation. 

Greetings  were  likewise  received  from  the  following  persons : 
Professor  Edwards  A.  Park,  D.  D.,  the  veteran  theologian  of 
Andover  Seminarv,  a  classmate  of  the  pastor's  father. 

Ex-President  Joseph  F.  Turtle,  D.  D.,  and  President  George 
S    Burroughs,  D.  D.,  of  Wabash  College,  Indiana. 

Rev.   Henry  A.   Davenport,  D.  D.,   pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
bvterian  Church,  of   Bridgeport,  Conn. 
"Rev.  Luther  H.  Angler,  D.  D.,  of  Boston. 
Rev    W.  R.  Cochrane,  D.  D.,  of  Antrim,  N.  H. 
Rev    James  Mitchell,  Ph.D.,  of  South  Framingham,  Mass. 
Rev     A.     T-    Arrick,    pastor  of    the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Mount  Sterling,  Kentucky,  that  has  just  celebrated  its  centennial. 
Rev.  Edwin  Charles  Haskell,  of  Sigourney,  Iowa. 
Mr.   William    H.   Baldwin,   President  of    the  Boston  Young 
Men's  Christian  Union. 

157 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Mr.  John  Ward  Dean,  secretary  of  the  New  England  His- 
torical Society. 

Mr.  Anthony  S.  Morse,  Charlestown,  Mass. 

Mr.  George  Whitefield  Betts,  Englewood,  N.  J. 

Mr.  Charles  G.  Blatchley  and  family,  Wayne,  Penn. 

Mr.  Lucius  L.  Day  and  family,  Wayne,  Penn. 

Mr.  Horace  W.  Hove}',  Independence,  Iowa. 

Miss  Mary  Freeman  Hovey,  Crawfordsville,  Indiana. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Henry  F.  Ellinwood,  Victor,  N.  Y. 

Edmund  Otis  Hovey,  Ph.  D.,  and  Mrs.  Hovey,  New  York 
City. 


i5S 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


ADDITIONAL  POEMS. 

Spontaneous  poetical  offerings,  mentioned  on 
page  134  as  to  appear  in  an  Appendix,  seem  to  be 
preferably  in  place  along  with  the  other  reminders 
of  friendship  from  the  absent  admirers  of  the  Old 
South  Church ;  and  as  tokens  of  affection  they  have 
a  value  of  their  own  that  calls  for  suitable  recogni- 
tion.    They  are  the  following: 

FROM    THE    AGES    PAST. 

BY     MR.   EDWARD    D.   PRITCHARD. 

(From  the  early  days,  members  of  the  Pritchard  family  have  done  faithful  work 
in  the  Church,  the  Parish  and  the  Sabbath  School,  and  those  of  the  present  generation 
have  good  cause  for  recalling  with  gratitude  the  memories  awakened  by  these  lines.) 

The  echoes  re-echoed  through  the  ages  past 

Are  prolonged  by  their  rolling  while  time  shall  last; 

And  we  hear  the  song  of  the  angels  again— 

"  To  God  be  the  glory,  and  good  will  to  men." 

Our  fathers  builded  on  this  as  foundation 

For  all  that  they  wished  for  home  and  the  nation ; 

And  they  placed  on  their  church  the  heaven-pointing  spire 

But  proved  by  holy  living  their  lofty  desire. 

159 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Their  works  do  follow,  though  the  fathers  are  gone, 
As  fragrance  the  flowers  the  tempest  has  strewn  ; 
Or,  like  the  bold  ship  which  the  mad  waves  defied, 
They  come  gracefully  in  with  the  evening  tide. 

We  are  proud  of  their  names,  and  boast  noble  blood, 
And  ask  for  the  talents — so  faithfully  used — 
To  establish  throughout  this  sin-stricken  world 
Temples  of  freedom  for  the  glory  of  God. 

They  beckon  us  on  from  the  evergreen  shore, 

But  only  the  faithful  have  right  to  go  o'er; 

So  we'll  work  while  'tis  day,  till  the  night  shall  come, 

And  we  hear  from  the  angels  the  glad  "  Come  home!" 

God  of  our  fathers  !     Grant  to  each  ere  we  part, 
The  most  precious  of  blessings,  a  God-touched  heart, 
And  we'll  give  thee  now,  and  we  hope  evermore, 
All  glory  and  honor,  dominion  and  power! 


"WHEN    I    AM    WEAK,  THEN  AM    I    STRONG." 

BY  DELEVAX  KNIGHT  CARTER,  ES({_. 

(The  author  of  these  lines,  a  relative  of  the  pastor,  and  one  who  loves  and  honors  the 
Old  South  Church  for  its  history  and  for  the  good  it  has  done,  claims  nothing  but  leave 
to  say  so  in  his  own  way.) 

I'd  write  a  verse — I  would  rehearse 

Had  I  that  in   me  which 
Could  pen  a  line  or  make  a    rhyme 

Devoutly  true  or    rich, 
To  tell  your  virtues  and  your  might, 

Your  honored  ways  to  speak; 
But  I  cannot,  though  my  love  is  great; 

My  words  fail — I  am  weak. 

I  60 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

My  words  are  weak,  and  I  am  weak, 

My  thoughts  I  can't  declare ; 
For  you,  Old  Church,  to  me  are  grand  ! 

There's  nothing  to  compare 
In  me,  or  mine,  or  in  my  rhyme  ; 

\1\  words  are  worse  than  Greek  ; 
For  while  I  love  you,  dear  Old  Church, 

To  word  it,  I'm  too  weak. 


But  vet  1  write  with  true  delight, 

And  labor  to  set  forth 
My  love  for  you  in  all  you  do, 

Your  past  and  present  worth. 
And  through  the  Power  that  moves  the  world 

To  grace,  we  all  may  seek 
A  home  with  God,  who  built  this  Church  ; 

For  God  saves — though  we're  weak. 


"THE  FATHERS  THAT  PLANTED  SO  WELL." 

From  Rev.  YV.  R.Cochrane,  D   D.,  of  Antrim,  N.  H.,  longest  settled  pastor  in  Boston 
Presbytery.) 

How  I'd  love  to  be  with  you    my  Brother,  today, 

As  you  tell  of  the  foils  and  the  tears,— 
As  vou  gather  the  garlands  that  bloomed  by  the  way 

Of  the  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

We  know  not  the  fathers  that  planted  so  well 

In  the  times  of  troubles  and  fears; 
But  the  seed  has  borne  fruit  as  Ave  all  can  tell, 

For  a  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

161 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Then  George  the  Second  was  having  his  round — 

That  "snuffy  old  drone,"  it  appears, 
When  the  fathers  joined  hands  on  this  holy  ground, 

Back  a  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

I  doubt  not  their  names  are  spoken  above, 

And  many  an  Angel  hears, 
While  we  tell  of  their  faith  and  their  Christian  love, 

Back  a  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Oh,  children  in  wonder,  Oh,  parents  in  prayer, 

Now  gone  to  the  radiant  spheres — 
Here  centered  their  worship,  and  love  and  care, 

Back  a  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Here  Whitefield,  speaking  the  burning    word, 

And  others  whom  love  endears, 
In  whispers  out  of  the  past  are  heard 

For  a  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Oh  stand,  old  Church,  while  time  shall  last! 

Be  spoken,  O  Word  that  cheers  ! 
May  the  light  shine  clear,  as  it  has  in  the  past, 

These  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Oh,  the  good  for  which  they  toiled  and  wept, 
And  the  Faith,  which  our  heart  reveres — 

May  we  keep  it  as  true  as  our  fathers  have  kept. 
These  hundred  and  fifty  years. 

Till  we  meet  them  all  where  the  blessed  are  met. 

Where  heaven  its  portal  rears, 
And  the  saints  in  their  endless  joy  forget 

The  centuries  and  the  years! 

I  6  2 


OLD  SOUTH  CHURCH,  CHAPEL,  AND  HOME  OF  GARRISON. 


FIRS!      PRESBYTIA  l.W    CHURCH. 


THE    BANQUET. 

Abundant   hospitality  was  afforded  for  all  guests. 
Those  from  out  of  town  were  entertained  b)  the  Re- 
ception   Committee,  at   the   Wolfe    Tavern,  or  pri- 
vately at  the  homes  of  members  of  the  congregation. 
A  fine  banquet  was  spread  in  the  chapel,  Wednesday 
evening,    previous  to   Dr.   Vermilye's  historical  ad- 
dress in  the  main  audience  room.    The  arrangements 
for  this  social  feast  were  abl}  cared  for  by  the    spe- 
cial committee  appointed  forthe  purpose, of  which  Mr. 
Charles  C.  Donnell   was  the  chairman,  aided  by  Mr. 
Edgar  |.  Batchelder,  and  the  chairman  of  the  General 
Committee,  with  other  members  of  the  congregation. 
\     some  two  hundred  and  fifty  guests  were  to    be 
provided  for,  and  the  space  was  limited,  it  was  neces- 
sar)  to  admit  only  by  ticket.     A  hearty  welcome  was 
given  by  the  pastor,  who  introduced    Rev.   Peter  M. 
MacDonald,  D.  I).,  of  Boston,  as  the  presiding  officer 
lor  tin-  occasion.     In  the  absence  of  Dr.  Angier,  who 
was  to  have   invoked   the  divine  blessing,    that    was 

163 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

done  by  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske  of  Belleville,  after  which 
began  the  discussion  of  the  viands  sumptuously  pre- 
pared by  Messrs.  Fowle  and  Johnston  of  the  Wolfe 
Tavern,  the  well-known  caterers. 

When  the  repast  was  finished,  the  post-prandial 
eloquence  was  begun  by  Dr.  MacDonald  in  a  felici- 
tous speech.  He  glorified  Presbyterianism  in  general, 
tracing  it  down  from  Adam  and  Moses  to  the  present 
time,  showing  that  nearly  everything  good  in  this 
world  was  due  to  its  direct  or  indirect  agency;  and 
then  in  the  happiest  manner  complimented  the  Old 
South  Church  on  what  he  termed  its  "■magnificent 
history,"  and  on  the  style  in  which  its  great  anniver- 
sary was  being  celebrated.  He  referred  to  the  his- 
torical addresses  in  terms  of  the  warmest  praise,  and 
congratulated  the  pastor,  the  session,  the  General 
Committee,  and  all  the  special  committees  on  the 
rare  ability  shown  in  their  plans  and  arrangements. 

What  followed  was  wholly  impromptu,  no  set  or- 
der of  speech-making  having  been  provided.  Dr. 
David  Foss  spoke  briefly  and  earnestly  on  behalf  of 
the  parish,  of  whose  standing  committee  he  is  the 
chairman.  Elder  Charles  M.  Pritchard  made  an  ef- 
fective speech,  as  a  representative  of  the  session, 
very  justly  claiming  that,  on  these  historic  occasions 
the  rank  and    file  of  the  army  should    be    honored, 

164 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

without  whom  the  officers  could  do  but  little.  He 
referred  to  the  generous  and  loyal  laymen  and  sup- 
porters of  the  church,  whose  names  should  be  had  in 
loving  remembrance.  Mr.  Charles  W.  Jacoby  was 
called  on  to  speak  for  the  young  people,  and  did  so 
in  excellent  terms  of  eulogy,  paying  also  a  tribute  to 
the  aged.  Nathaniel  Appleton,  Esquire,  editor 
of  the  Herald,  spoke  on  behalf  of  the  press,  without 
whose  labors  such  anniversaries  would  hardly  be  so 
successful,  and  between  which  and  the  religious 
community  there  ought  to  be  the  most  intimate 
friendship.  Mr.  Prentiss  H.  Reed,  secretary  of  the 
General  Committee,  was  called  on  for  a  few  remarks, 
but  offered  as  a  substitute  one  of  Whittier's  poems 
referring  to  the  Old  South  Church,  which  was  im- 
pressively read  by  his  daughter,  Miss  Tula  M.  Reed. 
Speeches  were  made  by  Rev.  L.  A.  Pope,  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  by  Rev.  C.  P.  Mills,  pastor 
of  the  North  Congregational  Church,  neither  of 
which  had  been  closely  related  historically  with  our 
church,  but  both  of  which  had  many  interests  allied 
to  ours,  and  had  always  watched  with  gratification 
the  growth  and  success  of  their  Presbyterian  sister. 
Mr.  Mills  enlivened  his  address  by  witty  points  and 
telling  anecdotes.  Mr.  William  Little,  President  of 
the    Historical    Society,    reviewed    at     considerable 

165 

24 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

length  the  historic  facts  bearing  on  the  final  recon- 
ciliation of  the  Oldtown  church  and  the  Old  South, 
and  which  he  thought  should  be  recalled  with  pleas- 
ure at  such  a  time  as  this.  Other  speakers  would 
have  been  gladly  heard,  but  the  hour  had  arrived  for 
the  evening  service,  and  after  closing  words  and  a 
prayer  by  Dr.  Vermilye,  the  company  adjourned  to 
the  main  audience  room. 


i  66 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


THE  EVENING  SERVICES. 


The  historical   addresses,  on   Tuesday  evening  by 
the  pastor,  and  on   Wednesday  evening  by  Dr.  Ver- 
tnilye,  appear  in  full  in  the  first  part  of  this  volume; 
and   all   that  need  be  said   concerning  them  here   is 
that    everybody    was    delighted   .with    the  accuracy, 
ability,  pains-taking  fidelity  and  eloquence  with  which 
these    ministers    of     the  Gospel  accomplished  their 
ao-reeable  task.      The  result  as  now  embodied  in  this 
memorial  volume  will  be  appreciated  as  a  valuable 
addition  to  the  local  and  colonial  treasures  of  histor- 
ical   literature.      The    supplementary    reminiscences 
of  the  Rev.  John   R.  Thurston,   who  for    ten   years 
was  the  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of  Old  Newbury, 
were   fraught  with  eloquence  and  fervor,  and  were 
heard  with  breathless  attention.     It   is  a  matter    of 
regret  that,  as  they  were  wholly  extempore,  it  has  not 
been  found    practicable  to  reproduce  them  for  this 
volume. 

■  67 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Anion o-  the  most  attractive  features  of  all  the  ser- 
vices  must  be  mentioned  the  instrumental  and  vocal 
music,  as  indicated  on  the  program.  The  organ  vol- 
untaries and  accompaniments  were  rendered  with 
great  skill  and  in  excellent  taste.  The  solos  by  Miss 
Adams  were  beautiful  and  were  impressively  sung. 
Each  of  the  vocalists  was  in  the  best  possible  mood, 
and  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  grand  selections 
given  from  the  works  of  the  great  masters  of  sacred 
harmony.  The  congregational  singing  was  remarka- 
bly fine,  and  every  soul  seemed  to  pour  itself  out  in 
song  with  "the  General  Assembly  and  church  of  the 
first-born,  whose  names  are  written  in  Heaven,"  as 
they  joined  in  the  familiar  hymn, 

"  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds  " 

Every  heart  responded  "  Amen,"  when  the  Pastor 
dismissed  the  great  congregation  with  the  hallowed 
benediction : 

"  Now  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again  from 
the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that  great  Shepherd  of  the 
sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  Covenant, 
make  you  perfect  in  every  good  work,  to  do  his  will, 
working  in  you  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  His 
sight,  through  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom  be  glory  for- 
ever.    Amen." 


168 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


^Ippenbi*  X 


HE  ALBERT  PLUMER  MEMORIAL  CLOCK. 


The  clock  which  had  been  in  the  tower  since 
1785,  having  by  reason  of  long  use  become  unfit  for 
further  service,  it  was  replaced  in  1895  by  the  memo- 
rial gift  of  the  Plumer  family;  the  following  detailed 
account  of  which  has  been  prepared  by  Mr.  John 
T.  Brown,  the  chairman  of    the   General  Committee. 

The  subject  of  a  new  clock  was  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  brother  and  sisters  of  Mr.  Albert 
Plumer  who  deceased  October  14,  1894. 

They  at  once  came  forward,  and  expressed  their 
wish  to  place  a  new  clock  in  the  tower,  as  a  tribute 
of  their  affectionate  regard  for  the  memory  of  their 
brother. 

The  Parish  Committee  issued  a  call  for  a  meeting 
of  the  Society  which  was  held  December  21st,  1894. 
At  this  meeting  Mr.  John  T.  Brown  made  some  in- 
troductory remarks,  following  them  by  reading  the 
accompanying  letter. 

1  69 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

Newburyport,  Dec.  zi,  1S94. 
To  the  Parish  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society: 

Representing  a  family  which  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
membership  of  this  society,  it  is  my  privilege  in  behalf  of  the 
brother  and  three  sisters,  to  express  to  yon  their  desire  to  mani- 
fest their  affection  for  a  brother  recently  deceased,  by  placing  in 
charge  of  this  society  such  testimonial  as  has  to  them  seemed 
fitting  and  will  also  be  a  public  benefit. 

Accordingly  they  have  decided  to  have  placed  in  the  tower 
of  the  meeting  house  of  this  society  a  large,  first-class  tower 
clock.  Upon  the  acceptance  of  the  gift,  arrangements  will  be 
perfected  to  place  the  same  in  position  immediately,  and  have  it 
commence  its  work  of  pealing  out  the  half  hours  at  noon,  Jan. 
1st,  1S95. 

Accompanying  the  gift  will  be  a  policy  of  insurance  for  six 
hundred  dollars  on  the  clock,  payment  of  which  has  been  pro- 
vided for  by  the  thoughtful  hearts  of  the  donors. 

The  only  condition  connected  with  the  gift  is  that  the  society 
shall  always  keep  it  insured  for  a  sum  equal  to  its  present  value, 
and  if  damaged  or  destroyed  from  any  cause  the  proceeds  of 
such  insurance  shall  be  used  to  procure  a  new  clock  of  similar 
value,  to  replace  the  one  so  damaged  or  destroyed. 

The  inscription  on  the  movement  shall  always  be  retained  as 
it  is  when  the  clock  is  placed  in  position  after  its  acceptance  by 
the  Society. 

In  behalf  of  the  donors  Daniel  T.  Plumer,  Misses  Jane,  Maria 
and  Mehitable  T.  Plumer,  who  wish  in  this  manner  to  express 
regard  for  the  memory  of  their  brother,  the  late  Albert  Plumer, 
and  as  their  friend,  I  have  the  honor  to  unite  with  them  in  ask- 
ing acceptance  of  the  proposed  gift,  and  continue  the  well  wisher 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Newburyport. 

J.  T.  Brown. 


1  7  o 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  JohnW.  Winder,  it  was  at  once 
voted  to  accept  this  generous  gift,  and  Messrs.  J.  W. 
Winder,  Joseph  H.  Noyes  and  Charles  M.  Pritchard 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  prepare  suitable  resolu- 
tions. After  a  brief  conference  this  committee 
made  the  following  report,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    SOCIETY     IN      NEWBURYPORT. 

In  Parish  Meeting  Dec.  21,  1S94. 

Having  been  advised  of  the  desire  of  Dr.  Daniel  T.  Plumer, 
and  Misses  Jane,  Maria  and  Mehitable  T.  Plumer  to  donate  to 
this  society  in  memory  of  their  brother,  the  late  Albert  Plumer, 
long  identified  with  us,  a  first-class  tower  clock,  we  desire  to 
express  to  them  our  deep  appreciation  of  the  sincere  interest 
which  prompted  the  gift,  and  of  the  kind  sentiment  with  which 
it  is  tendered  to  this  people. 

Voted  that  this  parish  accept  with  pride  and  gratitude  this 
token  of  love,  and  promises  to  care  for  it  in  compliance  with 
the  conditions  of  the  generous  donors. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  this  society  be  extended  to  them. 

That  a  copy  of  the  letter  of  gift  and  of  this  vote  be  entered  on 
the  Parish  records  and  that  a  copy  of  this  vote  be  sent  to  each 
of  the  donors. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  H.  P.  Macintosh  it  was  voted  that  the  letter 
of  gift  and  the  above  report  be  published  in  the  daily  press. 

On  motion  of  C.  M.  Pritchard  it  was  voted  that  Messrs. 
J.  T.  Brown  and  C.  T.  Smith  act  as  a  committee  to  attend  to 
the  placing  of  the  clock  in  position  in  the  church  tower. 

171 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 

In  accordance  with  the  wish  of  the  donors  and  the 
vote  of  the  parish  Messrs.  Brown  and  Smith  procured 
a  first-class  tower  clock  with  hour  and  half  hour 
striking  attachments,  which  was  put  in  position  in 
the  tower  of  the  meeting  house.  The  following  ac- 
count of  the  starting  of  the  clock  is  taken  from  the 
Newburyport  Herald  of  January  ist  and  2d,  1895. 

The  new  clock  in  the  Old  South  meeting-house,  given  by  the 
Misses  Plumer  and  their  brother  of  Newbury,  as  a  memorial  trib- 
ute to  their  brother,  the  late  Albert  Plumer,  has  been  placed  in 
position,  and  will  be  started  at  12  o'clock  this  New  Year's  day. 

As  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  him  whom  the  gift  is 
especially  intended  to  commemorate,  the  parish  committee  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Society  have  directed  that  the  bell  be 
tolled,  commencing  about  11  o'clock,  Si  strokes,  Mr.  Plumer's 
age. 

After  the  clock  has  struck  the  hour  of  noon,  the  committee 
have  also  arranged  to  have  the  bell  rung  for  15  minutes,  ex- 
pressive of  their  joy  and  gratitude  to  the  givers  of  the  clock. 

IT    SOUNDS    OUT    FOR    THE    FIRST    TIME    AT    NOON, 
NEW    YEAR'S    DAY. 

Under  the  most  pleasant  circumstances  was  the  working  of  the 
new  tower  clock  at  the  Old  South  inaugurated  with  the  noon  of 
the  New  Year.  After  the  bell  had  tolled  its  tribute  to  Mr. 
Albert  Plumer,  Dr.  Daniel  T.  Plumer  and  his  daughters,  Misses 
Laura  J.  and  Maria  S.,  brother  and  nieces  of  the  donors, 
ascended  into  the  belfry  where  the  clock  has  been  placed.  At 
11.55  tne  doctor  started  the  pendulum  and  at  12  o'clock  the  bell 
pealed  forth  the  hour  of  noon.  There  were  many  persons  present 
around  the  meeting  house  to  hear  and  see  the   inauguration   into 

1  7  2 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

service,  among  them  Rev.  Dr.  Hovey,  Rev.  John  \V.  Dodge 
and  daughter,  Collector  Macintosh,  Capt.  Oliver  O.  Jones, 
several  members  of  the  session  of  the  church,  and  others,  includ- 
ing many  ladies. 

Thus  is  added  another  tribute  to  those  who  have  been  called 
from  this  sacred,  historical  meeting-house  :  the  monumental 
marble  of  the  early  pastor,  and  Whitefield,  the  great  preacher. 
The  curfew  speaks  of  a  beloved  wife,  and  now  "the  Plumer 
clock"  will  twice  every  hour  proclaim  the  affection  of  a  brother 
and  sisters  for  a  brother. 


B. 

Sundry  bequests  have  been  made  by  benevolent  persons,  and 
are  gratefully  mentioned.  The  largest  of  these  is  the  Emery 
Fund,  left  by  Miss  Sarah  M.  Emery  for  the  support  of  a  city 
missionary  of  the  orthodox  faith  ;  it  is  managed  by  five  trustees 
who  make  an  annual  report  to  the  parish. 

Legacies  have  been  received  from  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Hart,  widow 
of  David  Mart,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Boardman,  widow  of 
Hon.  Isaac  H.  Boardman,  for  the  support  of  public  worship. 
Mrs.  Ellen  T.  Brown,  wife  of  John  T.  Brown,  Esq.,  left  a  fund 
to  help  defray  parsonage  expenses.  Miss  Phoebe  Harrod,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  101  years,  left  a  fund  to  be  managed  by  the 
session  for  church  purposes. 

Such  loving  thoughtfulness  is  to  be  commended,  that  thus 
seeks  to  sustain  and  perpetuate  a  venerable  and  historic  organi- 
zation ;  and  the  example  set  is  worthy  of  imitation  by  those  stew- 
ards of  the  Lord  into  whose  hands  he  has  entrusted  wealth. 


i  7  3 


m 


WHITEFIELD    CENOTAPH    IN    THE    OLD    SOUTH. 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH, 

BY  REV,  HORACE  C,  HOVEY,  D,  D„ 


PASTOR     OF    THE     CHURCH. 


Fertile  meadows,  thoroughly  mown,  often  reward 
the  thrifty  farmer  by  an  "aftermath,"  or  second 
mowing,  that  is  well  worth  garnering.  Thus  it  is 
with  our  anniversary  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church.  Musty  records,  torn  old  pamphlets,  faded 
manuscripts  and  worn  clippings  from  newspapers 
have  come  forth  from  their  hiding-places,  besides 
those  already  examined;  and  aged  men  and  women 
have  related  their  merry,  or  grave,  reminiscences. 
The  accumulation  seems  to  our  Committee  on  Pub- 
lication worthy  of  preservation  as  a  supplement  to  this 
volume.  Yielding  to  their  request,  the  pastor  has 
done  the  work  of  a  compiler,  with  the  valuable  aid 
of  the  members  of  the  committee,  as  well  as  that  of 

i  7  4 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

the  officers  of  the  Church  and  the  Parish.  The  topics 
are  introduced  with  no  special  regard  to  their  logi- 
cal or  chronological   order. 


ACTS    OF    INCORPORATION. 

The  land  on  which  the  meeting-house  stands   was 
originally  sold  by  Deacon  Parker    Noyes    to  Joshua 
Beck,  for  whom  Beck  street  is  named.      He   in    turn 
conveyed  it  to  "a  committee  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
meeting-house  that  is    to  be    built."      Originally    the 
business  of    the    congregation    was    done    by     these 
"proprietors."     The  first  general  meeting  of  the    so- 
ciety was  called  for  August  2d,  1765.     The    records 
show  that  the  parish  was  incorporated    under  a  gen- 
eral act  of  the  Legislature  in  1794.      When  building 
improvements  were  made  in  1829,0116  condition  was 
that  "the  Proprietors  should  sell  all  of  their  right  and 
title  to  the  Society.1'      Afterward  the  pews  were  sold 
again  at  auction,  Capt.    Charles    W.   Storey  bidding 
the  highest  premium  and  choosing  pew   number   12, 
which  was  occupied   by  himself  and  his  family  for 
sixty  years.     The   individual   ownership  of    many  of 
the  pews  continues  to  this  day;  and  an  annual  meet- 
ing must  be  held  of  the  proprietors,  as  well  as  of  the 
parish,  in  order  to  the  legal  transaction   of  business, 

J75 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

although  the  officers  of  the  one  body  are  the  officers 
of  the  other  body  also.  Committees  were  appointed 
to  examine  the  laws  of  the  State  relating  to  our  affairs 
in  1752,  1770,  1794,  1817,  1833  and   1834. 

In  order  to  get  exact  information,  the  chairman  of 
our  Committee  on  Publication  recently  wrote  to  the 
Secretary  of  State,  and  obtained  the  following  reply: 

Commonwealth   of  Massachusetts. 

OFFICE    OF    THE    SECRETARY.  | 
OCTOBER    21,    1806.  | 

Mr.  John     W.     Winder. 

Dear  Sir  : — The  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Newbury- 
port  was  not  incorporated  by  a  separate  Act,  nor  was  it  in- 
corporated under  the  above  name.  Chapter  44,  of  1793,  en- 
titled "An  Act  for  incorporating  the  several  religious  socie- 
ties in  Newburyport,  in  the  County  of  Essex,"  approved 
February  22,  1794,  incorporated  "the  Presbyterian  Society 
in  Newburyport,"  with  several  other  societies,  under  one 
general  Act.  The  full  text  of  the  Act  can  be  found  in  the 
published  volumes  of  Laws  and  Resolves  of  Massachusetts. 
Yours  respectfully, 

William  M.  Olin, 

Secretary  of  State. 

The  experiences  of  the  fathers  convinced  them 
that,  although  there  had  always  been  a  good  degree 
of  harmony  between  the  church  and  the  parish,  the 
former,  as  well  as  the  latter,  ought  to  be  made  a  cor- 
porate bod}-.  Hence  we  give  the  following  extract 
from  our  church  records: 

1  7  6 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

"May  I,  1S15.  "  The  Church  met  in  the  chapel  and  voted  to 
accept  the  report  of  their  committee  who  were  chosen  in  Decem- 
ber, 1S13,"  viz.  Benjamin  Wyatt,  James  Kimball  and  Joseph 
Moody,  "  which  committee  recommended  that  the  Church  be- 
come an  incorporated  body,  that  they  may  legally  hold  or  dispose 
of  real  estate."  "Voted  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  for 
this  purpose.  Voted  that  Rev.  Daniel  Dana,  James  Kimball 
and  Benjamin  Wyatt  be  this  committee." 

"August  26,  1815.  Voted,  to  accept  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  May  1,  1S15,  to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for  an 
act  of  incorporation  ;  a  copy  of  which  Act  the  committee  had 
obtained,  and  presented  to  the  Session  for  their  acceptance. 
Also  voted  to  accept  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  in  the  name  of 
the  pastor,  deacons  and  elders  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Newburyport." 

A    COPY    OF    THE    ACT    OF    INCORPORATION. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 


In  the  vear  of  our  Lord,  One  Thousand,  Eight  Hundred  and 
Fifteen.  An  Act  to  incorporate  the  pastor,  deacons  and  elders  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport. 

Sec.  I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of 
the  same,  That  the  pastor,  deacons  and  elders  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Newburyport,  and  their  successors  in  office, 
be,  and  they  hereby  are,  incorporated,  and  made  a  body  politic 
and  corporate,  by  the  name  of  the  pastor,  deacons  and  elders  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newburyport. 

Sec.  II.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  said  pastor,  deacons  and  eld- 
ers may  have  and  use  a  common  seal,  and  the  same  may  break,  alter 
and  renew  at  pleasure,  shall  be  capable  of  suing,  or  being  sued, 
in  any  action,  real,  personal  and  mixed,  in  any  court  proper  to 

177 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

try  the  same  ;  shall  and  may  take  and  hold  in  fee  simple,  or 
otherwise,  by  gift,  grant,  or  devise,  any  estate,  real  or  personal, 
the  aggregate  annual  income  of  which  shall  not  exceed  two 
thousand  dollars,  and  may  sell  and  dispose  thereof  at  pleasure. 

In  the   House  of  Representatives,  June   14,  1815.     The  bill, 
having  had  three  several  readings,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

Timothy  Biglow,  Speaker. 

In  Senate,  June  14,  1S15.      This  bill   having  had   two  several 
readings,  passed  to  be  enacted. 

John  Phillips,  President. 
June  14,  iSi^. 

Approved, 

Caleb  Strong. 
Secretary's  office,  August  3,  1S15.     A  true  copy, 

Attest,    Alden  Bradford, 

Secretary  of  Commonwealth. 


OFFICIAL    RECORD. 

From  the  organization  of  the  Church  to  the  present 
time  there  have  been  fourteen  ministers,  thirteen  of 
whom  were  installed  pastors;  nineteen  founders; 
one  hundred  ruling  elders;  ten  deacons;  eleven 
church  clerks;  eight  church  treasurers;  sixty-four 
committee-men;  eighteen  parish  clerks;  seventeen 
parish  treasurers  and  twenty-nine  parish  collectors. 

MINISTERS. 

Joseph  Adams  (stated  preacher)        .       1742-174^ 
Jonathan  Parsons,  pastor  .  1 746-1 776 

1  7S 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 


John  Murray,  pastor 
Daniel  Dana,  pastor 
Samuel  P.  Williams,  pastor 
fohn  Proudfit,  pastor 
Jonathan  F.  Stearns,  pastor 
Ashbel  G.  Vermilye,  pastor 
Richard  H.  Richardson,   pastor 
Charles  S.  Durfee,  pastor 
William  W.  Newell,  Jr.,  pastor 
Charles  C.  Wallace,  pastor 
Brevard   D.  Sinclair,  pastor 
Horace  C.  Hovey,  pastor    . 


17S1-1793 
1 794- 1820 
1821-1S26 
1827-1S33 
1 835- 1 849 
1 850- 1 863 
1 864- 1 868 
1869-1872 
1874-18S0 
1881-18S8 
1 889-1892 
1893- 


ELDERS. 


Thomas  Pike, 
Benjamin  Knight, 
Moses  Bradstreet, 
Jonathan  Plumer, 
John  Brown, 
Enoch  Sawyer, 
Samuel  Toppan, 
Richard  Toppan, 
Philip  Coombs, 
Ralph  Cross, 
Enoch  Titcomb,  Jr. 
John  Morss, 
Stephen  Sewall, 
Ebenezer  Little, 
Daniel  Noyes, 
Timothy  Morss, 
Nathan  Pierce, 
John  Berry, 
Isaac  Johnson, 
Benjamin  Greenleaf, 
Josiah  Titcomb, 


William  Moulton, 
Jonathan  Knight, 
William  Allen, 
Nehemiah  Haskell, 
Henry  Titcomb, 
Joseph  Chase, 
Benjamin  Moody, 
Benjamin  Lunt, 
Jeremiah  Pearson, 
Daniel  Wells, 
Henry  Sleeper, 
Moses  Atkinson, 
Joseph  Huse, 
Caleb  Haskell, 
Jonathan  Greenleaf, 
James  Jewett, 
Nathaniel  Tenney, 
Jacob  Knight, 
Edward  Harris, 
Daniel  Plumer, 
Abraham  Noyes, 


'  79 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


Jonathan  Parsons, 
Joshua  Pilsbury, 
Edmund  Davis, 
Solomon  Pearson, 
Matthew  Perkins, 
Jacob  Boardman, 
Samuel  Noyes, 
John  O'Brien, 
Jonathan  Morss, 
William  Coombs, 
Silas  Parker, 
Jonathan  Call, 
Jonathan  Beck, 
Benjamim  Wyatt, 
James  Kimball, 
Paul  Titcomb, 
Thomas  M.  Clark, 
Joshua  Hills, 
Abraham  Wheelwright, 
John  Wills,  Jr., 
Joseph  Currier, 
Joseph  Knapp, 
Edward  Woodbury, 
Ezra  Lunt, 
Paul  Simpson, 
Daniel  Bartlett, 
Joseph  Morss, 
Enoch  Cross, 
Joseph  Moody, 

Joseph  Morss, 
Enoch  Cross, 
Ezra  Lunt, 
Thomas  M.  Clark, 
James  Caldwell, 


ELDERS. 

George  Donnell, 
James  Caldwell, 
Nathan  Crosby, 
Whittingham  Gilman, 
Moses  Pettingell, 
Samuel  Todd, 
Rufus  Smith, 
Nathan  Plumer, 
William  Pritchard, 
Ebenezer  Rolfe, 
Edward  W.  Lunt, 
George  W.  Campbell, 
Joseph   B.  Creasey, 
George  L.  Rogers, 
James  M.  Woods, 
Jesse  Hattle, 
John  D.  Parsons, 
Edmund  Jaques, 
John  T.  Brown, 
Dudley  D.  Tilton, 
Ebenezer  Smith, 
William  Todd, 
Robert  E.  Robertson, 
William  Binley, 
Charles  M.  Pritchard, 
Oliver  O.   Jones, 
Alvah  W.  Leavitt, 
John  M.  Bailey, 
George  H.  Jaques. 

DEACONS. 

William  Pritchard, 
Ebenezer  Rolfe, 
James  M.  Woods, 
Edmund  Jaques, 
John  D.  Parsons. 

i  S  o 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 


CHURCH    CLERKS. 


John  Brown, 
Edward  Harris, 
Joseph  Hnse, 
Stephen  Sewall, 
Joseph  Moody, 
Whittingham  Gilman, 


James  Caldwell, 
George  W.  Campbell, 
Edward   W.  Lnnt, 
Edmund  Jaques, 
William  Binley. 


Enoch  Titcomb, 
Edmund  Sawyer, 
Joseph  Moody, 
James  Caldwell, 


CHURCH    TREASURERS. 

(From    1785   to   1896.) 

William  Pritchard, 
Joseph   B.  Creasey, 
Ebenezer  Rolfe, 
Alvah  \V.  Leavitt. 


The  following  persons  have  served  as  officers  of 
the  proprietors  and  the  parish,  mentioning  only  the 
committee-men,  the  clerks,  the  treasurers  and  the 
collectors: 


COMMITTEE-MEN. 


Henry  Titcomb, 
James  Jewett, 
Jeremiah  Pearson, 
Stephen  Cross, 
Nathan  Pierce, 
Edward  Harris, 
James  Horton, 
Abel  Greenleaf, 
Abraham  Noyes, 
Richard  Toppan, 
Joseph  Huse, 


Joshua  Coffin, 
Enoch  Titcomb, 
David  Hemphill, 
Robert  Ba)  ley, 
Joseph  Noyes, 
Silas  Noyes, 
Robert  Long, 
John  O'Brien, 
Abner  Greenleaf, 
Samuel  Bay  ley, 
Moses  Hoyt, 


1S1 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


COMMITTEE-MEN. 


Joseph  Stanwood, 
Jonathan  Stickney, 
Benjamin  VVyatt, 
Jonathan  Call, 
William  Boardman, 
Paid  Titcomb, 
Moses  Kent, 
John  Harrod, 
Daniel  Swett, 
Ebenezer  Steadman, 
Stephen  Tilton, 
Whittingham  Gilman, 
James  Caldwell, 
John  Month', 
Moses  Pettingell, 
George  Greenleaf, 
John  N.  Cushing, 
Paul  Simpson, 
Roger  S.  Howard, 
William  Graves, 
Ezra  Lunt, 


Isaac  H.  Boardman, 
Rufus  Smith, 
Benjamin  Harrod, 
Henry  Cook, 
George  L.  Rogers, 
D.   J.  Adams, 
Paul  G.  Lunt, 
Benjamin  P.  Dow, 
P.  H.  Blumpey, 
Eben   P.  Goodwin, 
Thomas  C.  Simpson, 
James  M.  Woods, 
John  W.  Winder, 
John  D.  Parsons, 
John  T.  Brown, 
Ebenezer  Smith, 
William  Todd, 
John  A.  Greely, 
Oliver  O.   Jones, 
Charles  T.  Smith, 
David  Foss. 


PARISH    CLERKS. 


Jacob  Boardman, 
Robert  Long, 
David  Coffin, 
Samuel  Tenney, 
William  Currier, 
Moses  Kimball, 
William  Work, 
Nathaniel  Coffin, 
Stephen  Tilton, 


John  Moody, 
William  Pritchard, 
John  Coombs, 
Joseph  Tappan, 
George  W.  Campbell, 
Aaron   B.  Adams, 
William  Todd, 
William  H.  Bayley, 
Alvah  W.  Leavitt, 


1S2 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 


PARISH    TREASURERS. 


Jonathan  Greenleaf, 
Joseph  Moulton, 
Enoch  Toppan, 
Robert  Long, 
Enoch  Titconib, 
Richard  Pike, 
Joseph  Moody, 
Aaron  Pardee, 
Paul  Simpson, 


Berkley  Emerson, 
Cabot  Toppan, 
William  Ingalls, 
Samuel  Noyes, 
Moses  Rogers, 
Amos  Knight, 
Nicholas  Pettingell, 
Jonathan  Morss, 
Josiah  Plumer, 
Joshua  Coffin, 
Abraham  Adams, 
John  Knapp, 
Nehemiah  Haskell, 
Moody  Davis, 
William   P.  Lunt, 


William  Pritchard, 
Joseph  Morse, 
James  M.  Currier, 
George  W.  Haskell, 
Edward  W.  Lunt, 
Aaron  B.  Adams, 
Thomas  C.  Simpson, 
Prentiss  H.  Reed. 


COLLECTORS. 


Joseph  Noyes, 
Timothy  Palmer, 
William  Boardman, 
Jonathan  Beck, 
John  Moody, 
Paul  Simpson, 
William  Pritchard, 
Joseph  Morse, 
James  M.  Currier, 
George  W.  Haskell, 
George  L.  Rogers, 
Charles  C.  Donnell, 
Samuel  Brookings,  Jr., 
Charles  M.  Pritchard. 


THE    FOUNDERS. 


Charles  Pierce, 
Benjamin  Pierce, 
Jonathan  Plumer, 
Moses  Bradstreet, 
Daniel  Noyes, 
Daniel  Goodwin, 


Edward  Priesby, 
Major  Goodwin, 
Sylvanus  Plumer, 
Nathaniel  Atkinson, 
John  Brown, 
Thomas  Pike, 


i8 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 


THE    FOUNDERS. 


Samuel  Hale.  Benjamin  Knight, 

Richard  Hale,  Joseph  Hidden, 

Daniel  Wells,  William  Brown. 
Cutting  Pettingell, 

Early  accessions  were  received  to  the  number 
pledging  their  support  to  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons, 
so  that  the  list  of  subscribers  to  his  call  from  Lyme, 
to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  this  church,  included 
one  hundred  and  two  names. 


ITEMS     FROM    OLD    ACCOUNTS. 

The  books  kept  by  our  first  church  treasurer, 
Enoch  Titcomb,  from  1785  to  1795,  were  marked  by 
his  name,  and  remained  in  his  familv  for  a  century, 
having  just  come  into  our  possession  through  the 
gift  of  his  descendant  Mr.  Alfred  W.  Lord.  They 
contain  an  account  of  contributions  and  beneficiaries, 
the  latter  being  classified  as  old  men,  married  women, 
widows,  old  maids  and  negroes.  Special  gifts  were 
also  made,  as  for  missions  among  the  Indians,  for 
sufferers  from  the  great  fire  in  Boston,  or  for  some 
"burser  in  Dartmouth  Collidge."  After  one  of  Par- 
son Murray's  charity  sermons  the  offering  included 
1  Johannes,  2  pistoles,  1  moidore,  4  crowns,  13  dollars, 

1S4 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

60  dollars  in  small  change,  besides  coppers  and  half 
coppers.  "Alexander  the  coppersmith  did  much 
harm"  in  those  days,  as  appears  from  the  record  of 
226  half-pence  being  taken.  Guineas,  pistareens, 
etc.,  are  mentioned,  and  now  and  then  some  one  would 
be  credited  with  a  gold  ring,  or  other  trinket.  '"Other 
silver,'1  meaning  what  was  worn  or  clipped,  would  be 
given  by  weight  in  ounces,  pennyweights  and  grains. 
But  all  values  of  every  kind  are  faithfully  reduced  to 
pounds;  shillings  and  pence.  Two  palls,  to  be  used 
on  funeral  occasions,  were  purchased  at  a  total  cost 
of  18  pounds,  the  cost  of  the  child's  pall  being  met 
by  the  fees  charged  for  that  used  for  adults,  the 
regular  fee  for  using  it  a  single  time  being  seventy- 
five  cents.  They  were  made  by  Ruth  and  Hannah 
Bradbury.  The  materials  specified  were:  silk  velvet, 
cotton  velvet,  black  taffety,  tammy,  ribbons,  silk, 
tassels  and  corks,  silk  knee  garters,  and  a  bag  in 
which  to  keep  the  palls  when   not  in  use. 


It  is  stated  that  "  Ralph  Cross  furnished  the  sacra- 
mental utensils  from  his  private  dwelling  till  the 
society  was  able  to  procure  them  elsewhere  by  pur- 
chase." The  inscription  on  the  oldest  flagon  states 
that  it  was  presented  to  the  church  in  1799,  by  Mr. 
Samuel    Tufts,  and   was  u there  to  remain  forever." 

185 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

The  only  recorded  inventory  of  the  church  plate  is 
by  Mr.  Joseph  Moody  when  he  was  the  treasurer: 
"Purchased,  in  July  1818,  2  flagons,  2  tankards,  8 
cups  and  two  plates.  Purchased,  in  June  1832,  1 
flagon,  2  plates  and  4  cups."  The  baptismal  basin 
was  given  by  Mrs.  Wheelwright.  The  cost  of  plate 
purchased  was  $5^6.  and  the  estimated  value  of  the 
entire  service,  by  purchase  and  gift,  is  $800. 


ECCLESIASTICAL     RELATIONS. 

We  learn  that  ours  was  one  of  the  twelve  churches 
that,  in  1775,  made  up  the  old  Presbytery  of  Boston; 
which  was  then  amicably  divided  into  three  presby- 
teries, namely,  those  of  Londonderry,  Salem,  (also 
known  as  the  Eastern),  and  Palmer,  (also  called  the 
Western)  ;  and  these  three  were  again  combined  into 
what  was  styled  *kthe  Synod  of  New  England,"  that 
held  its  first  meeting  at  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1  776.  The  "Eastern"  should  not  be  con- 
founded with  the  ''Eastward"  Presbytery,  with  which 
on  Mr.  Murray's  account,  Mr.  Parsons  and  this 
church  were  atferward  connected,  and  which  never 
joined  the  Synod  of  New  England.  During  the 
great  schism  between  Old  and  New  School,  the 
Presbytery  of  Newburyport,  assembled  in  our  chapel, 

186 

27 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

November  14,  1838,  passed  resolutions  declaring  its 
perplexity  as  to  the  controversy,  and  said:  "Being 
unable  to  act  with  satisfaction,  and  with  a  clear  con- 
science, we  solemnly  assert  the  right  of  not  acting  at 
all."  Apprehending  that  censure  might  follow  this 
bold  step,  the  body  stood  ready  "solemnly  to  appeal 
to  that  higher  tribunal  at  which  all  erroneous  judg- 
ments of  the  Church  itself  will  be  reviewed  and  re- 
versed." The  commissioner  sided  with  the  New 
School  Assembly.  The  Presbytery,  after  standing- 
alone  for  several  years,  until  indeed,  according  to  Dr. 
Stearns,  our  church  was  "the  only  one  in  this  state 
connected  with  any  presbytery,"  was  re-united,  in 
1847,  with  the  Old  School  Presbytery  of  London- 
derry. 

In  October,  18 14,  our  church  defrayed  the  entire 
expenses  of  the  Synod  of  Albany,  when  it  met  in 
Newburyport. 

SCHEME    FOR    TWO    MEETING-HOUSES. 

In  a  letter  written  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  to 
Rev.  James  Sproat,  October  26,  1767,  the  former 
mentions  with  approval  a  plan  for  building  a  second 
meeting-house,  equal  to  the  one  on  Federal  street,  to 
be  located  in  old  Newbury,  to  be  supported  by  taxa- 
tion   of    pews,  polls    and    estates,  on   condition    that 

187 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Messrs.  Parsons  and  Sproat  "be  esteemed  as  minis- 
ters equally  belonging  to  both  houses,"  and  that  "the 
whole  body  be  one  particular  church,  governed  as 
Mr.  Parsons'  has  been  heretofore,,,  "the  elders  beino- 
chosen  by  the  whole  body."  This  new  meeting- 
house was  erected  and  boarded  in,  opposite  the  Con- 
gregational meeting-house  as  it  then  stood  in  New- 
bury, but  it  was  blown  down  in  a  violent  storm,  Feb- 
ruary, 1 77 1.  The  journal  kept  by  Mr.  Parsons  shows 
that  the  ecclesiastical  matters  of  the  two  towns  were 
seriously  discordant  at  about  the  time  of  the  above 
plan,  which  was  thus  frustrated  by  Providence. 


THE    OLD    SOUTH    CRYPT. 

The  original  tomb  in  which  the  bodies  of  White- 
field,  Parsons  and  Prince  were  buried,  was  built  in 
1770,  and  was  located  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  as  it 
then  stood  on  the  North-east  side  of  the  house,  and 
the  entrance  was  by  a  trap-door  in  the  broad  aisle. 
When  the  meeting-house  was  remodeled  in  1829, 
the  remains  were  removed  to  their  present  resting 
place.  Messrs.  Isaac  Johnson  and  John  Mood}'  were 
appointed  to  see  to  their  safe  removal.  Mr.  Moody 
made  new  mahogany  coffins  for  them;  and  Mr. 
Johnson  lettered  the  names  on  the  inside  of  the    lids, 

1S8 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

one  of  which,  Whitefield's,  is  plainly  legible  at  the 
present  time.  In  1866,  in  excavating  under  the  build- 
ing for  placing  furnaces,  the  workmen  unearthed  the 
old  tomb  and  found  it  considerably  larger  than  the 
present  crypt.  Our  authority  for  these  facts  is  Mr. 
William  II.  Johnson,  who  had  them  from  his  father, 
Mr.  Isaac  Johnson. 

The  crypt,  as  it  stands  today,  is  a  brick  structure, 
seven  feet  square,  reached  by  a  flight  of  steps,  and 
lighted  by  gas.  On  the  right,  as  we  enter,  are  the 
remains  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons;  on  the  left  those 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Prince;  while  across  their  feet  lies 
Whitelield's  coffin.  The  three  coffins  lie  with  the 
lids  open  but  protected  by  glass,  exposing  the  head 
and  chest  of  each  occupant  to  view.  Whitefield's 
skull  was  taken  to  Boston  some  years  ago  to  have 
casts  made  from  it,  one  of  which  is  to  be  seen  in  the 
crypt;  but  the  skull  was  safely  brought  back  and  re- 
stored to  its  place  in  the  coffin. 

The  arm  of  the  evangelist  was  stolen  long  ago  and 
taken  to  England,  where  it  was  seen,  in  1836,  by 
Mr.  Robert  Philip,  who  promised  to  conceal  the  cul- 
prit's name,  if  he  would  return  the  spoil.  This  he 
did,  but  without  an  explanation  at  the  time.  The 
name  of  the  purloiner  is  said  to  have  been  Bolton. 
Rev.    Dr.    Stearns,    to    whom    the    mysterious    box 

1  S  9 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

containing  the  missing  relic  was  returned,  regarded 
it  with  apprehension,  lest  it  might  be  an  "infernal 
machine."  After  some  months  a  letter  came  stating 
the  facts,  and  asking  if  the  bone  had  been  received. 
Under  the  date  of  September  26,  1849,  Dr.  Stearns 
wrote  as  follows: — "The  trust  committed  to  me  I 
am  happy  to  say  has  been  discharged.  The  ven- 
erable relic  was  conveyed  to  the  vault  where  its  kin- 
dred remains  lie;  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Session 
of  the  Church,  and  of  the  Parish  Committee,  I 
descended  to  the  tomb,  and  restored  it  to  its  place 
yesterday.  'Earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to 
dust.'  " 

It  is  further  related  that  a  Mr.  Brown  of  Epping 
Forest,  England,  visited  the  old  tomb  in  1784,  in  or- 
der to  test  the  truth  of  a  rumor  that  the  body  of  the 
evangelist  remained  "entire  and  uncoo-upled."  He 
certified  that  this  was  true;  that  he  felt  of  the  flesh 
himself,  and  found  the  body  as  perfect  as  when  the 
interment  had  taken  place  fourteen  years  before. 
Another  examination  was  made,  in  1801,  by  Mr. 
Mason,  of  Newburyport,  who  reported  that  he  found 
the  flesh  totally  consumed,  though  the  gown,  cas- 
sock and  bands  were  the  same  as  if  just  put  in  the 
coffin.  The  suggestion  has  repeatedly  been  made 
that  the  crypt  should  be   sealed   up;   but  the  opposi- 

1  90 


HISTORICAL    AFTER-MATH 

tion  to  this  has  always  been  too  strong  to  be  over- 
come. Hence  it  remains  accessible  to  the  public. 
The  registry  of  visitors  shows  the  names  of  more 
than  6000  persons  who  have  visited  the  sacred  place 
during  the  past  twenty-eight  years.  The  volume 
contains  the  autographs  of  some  of  the  most  distin- 
guished persons  in  our  own  country,  as  well  as  from 
foreign  lands.  Every  state  of  the  Union  has  been 
represented:  and  all  the  British  Provinces.  There 
have  also  been  visitors  from  England.  Scotland.  Ire- 
land, and  various  parts  of  Europe;  from  Turkey. 
China.  Japan.  India.  Africa.  Bermuda.  Hawaii,  and 
other  regions.  On  several  occasions  large  religious 
assemblies  have  visited  it  in  a  body.  Even  while 
these  pages  are  in  press,  the  crypt  and  other  objects 
of  interest  in  and  about  the  Old  South  Church  are 
visited  by  the  Massachusetts  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution.  The  time  seems  to  have  hardly  yet 
come  for  sealing  up  such  a  place  of  precious  relics. 


TOWER.    CLOCK,    BELL    AND    VANE. 

The  memorial  clock  recently  given  by  the  Plumer 
familv  is  fully  described  on  preceding  pages.  Its 
predecessor  was  put  up  in  1785:  but  who  bought  or 
gave  it  is  not  known.     The  old  dials  were  hexagonal, 

191 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

and  they   had  but  one    hand,    an    arrow,    extending 
across  the  dial  to  mark  the  hours:  the  minutes  might 
take    care  of  themselves.      When  the    clock   struck 
one   p.   m.,    and  also  at  9  p.  m.,  the  bell   was  rung 
lor    ten    minutes — a    custom    for    sometime    discon- 
tinued, but  now  resumed,  so  far  as  the   nine  o'clock 
"curfew"    is    concerned.       The    original    bell     was 
bought  previous  to    1785.    at  which   date  a    vote    is 
recorded  "to  raise  the  bell  to  the  top  of  the  steeple." 
The   peculiar  phrase   suggests  the    idea    that   at    rlrst 
it  may  have  been  tested  on  a  triangle:   as  was  actually 
done  when  one  of  our  pew-holders.    Lord    Timothy 
Dexter,  bought  two  bells,  importing  them  from  Lon- 
don, then   setting  them   up  for  a  time  on  the   Brown 
Square  that   people   might  try  them;    the  best    being 
kept    for    the   Second   Presbyterian    church,   and  the 
other  sent  to  a  church  at  Maiden.      However  that  may 
be,  our  present    bell   was   bought  by  Mr.   Benjamin 
Wvatt.  as   a  committee  with   power  to   act.   in    iSo}. 
and  was  cast  by  the  famous  Paul  Revere.    For  ninety- 
three  years  it  has  pealed  forth  its  rich,  mellow  tones 
lor  the   hours   of    the  day  and   nierht,   been   runo-  for 
Sabbath   services,  on   election  days,  and   occasionally 
on  an  anniversary  of  a  birthday,  notably  that  of  Miss 
Phoebe  Harrod,  in  whose  honor  it  was   rung   a   hun- 
dred  minutes.       It  has   tolled  for  funerals,   aided   in 

192 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

sounding  fire-alarms,  and  made  the  air  tremble  with 
"joy-bells "  on  holidays,  and  other  occasions  of  re- 
joicing. 

When  the  meeting-house  had  stood  nearly  a  cen- 
tury it  was  taken  for  granted,  in  1848,  that  the  tim- 
bers of  the  tower  must  needs  be  decayed,  and  that  a 
new  structure  ought  to  be  built.  But  those  who 
undertook  the  job  found  the  timbers  as  sound  as 
ever.  One  of  the  carpenters  timed  his  sawing  a 
timber  off  and  found  it  took  half  an  hour.  Yet  the 
decree  had  gone  forth  and  the  tall  old  spire  must 
come  down.  It  was  more  easily  said  than  done. 
Mr.  Elias  Pike  was  entrusted  with  the  task.  The 
spire  itself  was  one  solid  piece  of  white  oak,  broad 
at  the  bottom,  and  tapering  to  the  top,  where  for  so 
many  generations  the  gilded  weathercock  had  veered 
with  each  changing  wind,  and  had  served  as  a  land- 
mark for  the  sailors.  Horses  and  oxen  were  used  to 
pull  over  the  spire,  by  the  aid  of  pullies  and  a  snatch 
block,  after  the  saw  had  been  freely  used.  Slanting 
cuts  had  to  be  made  in  order  to  gain  a  purchase. 
Just  as  this  was  done,  the  horses  were  frightened  in 
some  manner  and  started  suddenly,  so  that  the  spire 
fell  point  downward  into  Federal  street.  But  while 
yet  in  mid-air,  the  gilded  rooster  slipped  from  his 
lofty  perch,  and  like  a  thing  of  life,  flew  to   Spring 

1  9  3 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

street,  where  he  alighted,  somewhat  battered,  though 
not  beyond  easy  repairing.     The  bird  was  first  put  on 
the  spire  in  1759,  and  must  have  been  startled  at  the 
unexpected     change     in     his    situation.     On     being 
weighed  he  was  found  to  tip  the  scales  at  fifty-three 
pounds,  being  made,  not  of  wood,  but  of  pure  copper 
gilded.     Captain  Nathan  Plumer,  with  the  aid  of  Mr. 
Philip  Lord,  put  on  the  shingles  of  the  new  spire,  in 
1848,  and  together  they  hoisted  the  weathercock  to 
his  place  again.     After  adjusting  him  on  the  upright 
iron  rod  whereon  he  was  to  revolve,  Captain  Plumer, 
before  coming  down,  slapped  him  on  the  side,  shout- 
ing, -Good  by,  old  bird!"     This  venerable  fowl  has 
afforded  so  much   amusement  to  people   who    know 
no  better,  that  it  is  well   to  remind  them  that,  from 
the  earliest  period,  the  cock  has  been    a    Christian 
emblem,  a    special  symbol   of   the  resurrection,  the 
herald  of  the    millennial   dawn,  and  the  emblem  of 
eternal  vigilance. 

Among  those  who  watched  the  building  of  the 
new  spire  was  a  lad  in  a  corner  grocery,  who  offered 
various  suggestions  to  Mr.  Rufus  Sargent,  the  archi- 
tect, that  were  of  course,  promptly  discarded.  His 
name  was  Thomas  W.  Silloway;  and  he  informs 
the  writer  that  he  at  that  time  received  the  first 
impulses  that  led  him  afterward  to  devote    himself 

X94 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

for  life  to  the  profession  of  architecture  in  Boston, 
where  his  fame  is  well  established.  He  also  in- 
forms me  that  the  pulpit,  then  new,  but  now 
sixty-seven  years  old,  is  made  of  pine,  and  it  was 
intended  to  have  Mr.  Johnson,  who  did  the  rest 
of  the  painting,  paint  it  white.  But  some  one  reported 
a  new  process  of  graining  to  make  the  pine  look  like 
oak.  Accordingly  a  Boston  painter  named  Whit- 
taker,  came  on  to  effect  the  marvellous  transforma- 
tion. His  condition  was  that  he  and  his  helper 
should  have  complete  control  of  the  room  till  his 
work  was  done.  For  some  years  the  parish  took 
pride  in  it  as  a  work  of  art;  but  better  taste  prevailed 
in  1856,  and  the  pulpit  was  painted,  as  was  first  in- 
tended, a  pure  white.  At  that  time  an  Italian,  named 
Philip  Guelpa,  did  the  refrescoing  of  the  walls  and 
ceiling  so  generally  and  deservedly  admired,  espe- 
cially the  marvellous  hangings  back  of  the  pulpit. 


Church  music  has  been  mentioned  on  pages  52-54; 
but  a  few  words  ma)7  here  be  added.  In  1781  Elder 
Pearson  was  instructed  to  "sit  in  the  Elder's  seat 
and  set  the  music.  In  1795  the  parish  voted  "to 
sing  without  the  Deacons'  reading  the  psalms  and 
hymns  line  by  line."  That  same  year  they  voted 
forty  pounds  for  a  singing-school,  and  made  another 

*95 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

appropriation  for  the  same  object  in  1807.  At 
about  the  same  time  they  voted  to  remove  the 
old  sounding-board  from  above  the  pulpit;  and 
likewise  appointed  a  special  committee  to  see  that 
"pew-owners  should  nail  list  on  the  seats  to  prevent 
the  noise  made  by  their  falling  in  prayer  time."  In 
1 8 13  the  parish  voted  "to  adopt  the  regulation  dress 
for  attending  funerals,"  although  no  description  of 
said  dress  is  given  in  the  records. 


The  accompanying  interior  view  shows  the  mod- 
ern organ,  to  the  right  and  left  of  which  are  the  so- 
called  "negro  pews,"  relics  of  colonial  customs;  a 
portion  of  the  famous  whispering  gallery;  the  fres- 
coed ceiling;  and  the  alcoves,  between  the  doors, 
where  the  stoves  used  to  stand  whence  the  foot- 
stoves  were  supplied  with  live  coals. 


From  the  materials  furnished  by  the  singing- 
schools  the  "singing  men  and  sinoino-  women'''  were 
formed  into  a  choir,  that  was  led  by  an  orchestra 
consisting  of  a  violin,  a  base-viol,  a  clarinet  and  a 
bassoon.  Among  some  manuscripts  kindly  given 
to  us  by  Mr.  Alfred  W.  Lord,  and  that 
had  been  out  of  our  possession  for  a  century, 
(mostly    pertaining   to   the    separation    between    the 

1  9  6 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

First  and  Second  churches),  we  found  the  remon- 
strance of  Elder  Jeremiah  Pearson  against  the  use  of 
anthems  and  fugue-tunes  in  the  house  of  God.  But 
all  such  protests  were  in  vain.  The  parish  not  only 
kept  its  choir,  but  bought  an  organ,  in  1828,  at  a  cost 
of  $800.  This  was  used  for  ten  years,  and  then  ex- 
changed for  another  costing  $1400,  bought  from  Mr. 
William  Balch,  $500  being  allowed  for  the  old  in- 
strument. This  second  organ  was  sold  at  half-price 
in  1866,  when  the  superior  one  now  in  use  was  bought 
for  $3800  from   Hook  and  Hastings   of   Boston. 


The  Pastoral  Library,  mentioned  on  page  5,  was 
founded  in  1849,  by  a  vote  of  the  parish,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Deacon  Moses  Pettingell,  who  also  made 
a  liberal  donation  to  its  contents.  A  vote  was  also 
recorded  in  1869,  by  the  church  with  the  concurrence 
of  the  parish,  that  an  annual  collection  should  be 
taken  to  replenish  this  valuable  library;  the  outlay  of 
the  fund  being  in  the  hands  of  a  committee  annually 
appointed,  and  of  which  the  pastor  is  the  chairman. 
The  beneficial  result  is  that  a  collection  of  books, 
papers  and  manuscripts  is  being  made,  by  purchase 
and  by  gift,  that  will  increase  in  value  as  time  passes 
by,  and  will  save  for  coming  generations  historical, 
and  other,  material  that  else  would  perish. 

197 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 
EARLY    LEGENDS    AND    CUSTOMS. 

Several  of  the  quaint  legends  that  have  come  down 
as  to  the  early  ministers  have   already  been   related. 
They  appear  to  have  had  a  generous  support  for  the 
times.     At  the  outset  the  society,  amid   its    poverty 
and  persecution,  voted  to  Mr.  Parsons  a  salary  vary- 
ing from  ioo  to  133    pounds    annually,    besides  "the 
loose  contributions."     They  also  gave  him  the  house 
and  grounds    he    occupied    on    School   street.     His 
widow  was  well    cared   for    after    his   death,  getting 
one  year  the   sum    of  100    pounds,  and   considerable 
sums  at  other  times.     These   were  in    good  English 
money,  as  it  was  before  the  Revolutionary  War.  No 
reference     is  made   in  the    records    to   "continental 
money,"   but   its  use   explains  the   statement  that,  in 
1780,  Mr.Murray's  salary  was  9,000  pounds  and  house 
rent;  and  that  same  year  the  appropriation  for  parish 
expenses     was   20,000  pounds,  or  the  equivalent  of 
$100,000.     The  year  following,  Mr.  Murray's  salary 
was  but  150  pounds,  with  100  pounds  additional  as  a 
gift,  together  with  1,000  pounds  to  build  a  parsonage. 
The  total  amount  for   this    latter  object   was    1,805 
pounds.     After  Mr.  Murray's    death   very    generous 
appropriations  were  made  for  the  support  of  his  fam- 
ily.    He  was  buried  on  the  summit  of  what   is    now 
known  as  the  Old  Burying  Hill,  in  a  tomb  of  brick 

19S 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

surmounted  by  granite  blocks,  on  which  rests  a  white 
marble  slab  suitably  inscribed;  the  tomb  was  con- 
structed at  the  expense  of  the  society,  and  is  at 
this  time  in  perfect  condition. 

Parson  Murray  was  great  and  eloquent,  but  not 
quite  perfect.  He  knew  this  better  than  any  one 
else.  But  it  was  a  pity  that  some  of  his  clerical 
brethren  could  never  forget  his  faults  in  consideration 
of  his  many  virtues.  For  various  reasons  Dr.  Spring- 
would  not  shake  hands  with  him.  At  a  certain  fu- 
neral where  they  both  officiated,  the  former 
left  the  room  when  the  latter  prayed.  Hence  the 
boys  used  to  sing  this  odd  refrain: 

"Parson  Spring  began  to  fling, 

And  seemed  to  be  in  a  hurry; 
He  could  .not  stay  to  hear  him  pray, 

Because  'twas  Parson  Murray." 

But  our  parson  had  his  retaliation.  Dr.  Spring 
published  a  theological  work,  whose  doctrines  were 
open  to  objections,  and  Mr.  Murray  wrote  on  the  fly- 
leaf of  a  copy  that  went  the  rounds,  a  significant 
stanza  quoted  from  Watts,  Book  I,  hymn  57. 

"What  mortal  power  from  things  unclean 

Can  pure  productions  bring? 
Who  can  command  a  vital  stream 

From  an  infected  Spring?" 

199 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

Formerly  the  invariable  custom  was  to  require 
those  guilty  of  scandalous  offences  to  make  public 
confession  which  was  duly  recorded  in  the  church- 
book.  But,  March  31,  182 1,  it  was  voted,  "That, 
whenever  the  Session  are  satisfied  of  the  sincere  pen- 
itence of  the  offender,  no  public  confession  of  any 
particular  sin  shall  be  required — inasmuch  as  the 
usages  of  the  church  cannot  make  that  right,  or  ex- 
pedient, for  which  there  is  no  warrant  in  the  Word 
of  God."  In  the  following  year  the  rule  requiring 
candidates  for  membership  to  give  written  experi- 
ences was  also  dispensed   with. 

THE     SABBATH     SCHOOL. 

After  the  Newburyport  Sabbath  School  and  Tract 
Society  was  disbanded,  in  1835,  (see  Page  4-6)?  our 
school  was,  for  a  while,  sustained  by  voluntary  effort, 
and  there  is  no  record  of  officers.  Historically  the 
school  dates  back  to  its  original  formation  in  our 
Beck  street  chapel,  in  1814,  eighty-two  years  ago. 
It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  no  complete  list  has  been 
kept  of  those  earlier  years.  But  it  is  known  that, 
among  the  men,  were :  Capt.  Abraham  Wheelwright, 
Thomas  M.  Clarke,  John  Rogers,  Edward  Woodburv. 
Paul  Simpson,  Isaac  Wheelwright,  George  Donnell 
and  James  Caldwell.  Among  the  women  were: 
Phoebe  Harrod,   Mary  C.  Greenleaf,   Mary  Haskell, 

2  00 
29 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

Lydia  Titcomb,  Mary  Ann  Pillsbury,  Elizabeth  Beck, 
and  Almira  Boardman. 

In  July,  1838,  the  church  assumed  the  care,  super- 
vision and  support  of  the  school,  and  appointed  its 
teachers  and  officers;  which  continues  to  be  the  cus- 
tom, with  modifications.  Vacancies  ad  interim  are 
rilled  by  the  officers  and  teachers. 

Among  those  who  served  either  as  superintendents, 
or  as  acting  superintendents,  may  be  mentioned: 
Captain  William  Pritchard,  who  was  elected  in  1838 
and  served  for  twenty-five  years,  James  Caldwell, 
Roger  S.  Howard,  Charles  Morss,  Ebenezer  Rolfe, 
Moses  H.  Sargent,  (afterward  for  many  years  treas- 
urer of  the  Congregational  Sunday  School  and  Pub- 
lishing Society),  William  Todd,  James  A.  Horton, 
John D.  Parsons,  Edward  D.  Pritchard,  Joseph  B.Crea- 
sey,  Edmund  Jaques,  (who  has  also  served  long  and 
faithfully  as  librarian),  George  W.  Haskell,  Dudley 
D.  Tilton,  Dr.  Frank  A.  Hale,  Joseph  H.  Noyes, 
Walter  Gerrish,  Charles  M.  Pritchard,  William 
Taylor,  George  H.  Jaques,  William  E.  Chase,  and 
John  M.  Bailey. 

The  Home  Department  is  superintended  by  Mrs. 
Helen  L.  Hovey,  and  the  Primary  Department  by 
Miss  Ada  M.  Greenleaf.  The  present  secretary  of 
the  school  is  Miss  Alice  G.Jones.    Miss  Mary  P.  Lunt 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

has,    for    several     years,    served    as    pianist    for    the 
school. 


The  former  system  of  having  tything-men  being 
discontinued,  it  became  necessary  to  have  some  per- 
son authorized  to  maintain  order  and  propriety  in  the 
house  of  God;  and  accordingly,  April  15,  1 861,  the 
church  decided  that  this  duty  devolved  on  the  sex- 
ton, and  voted  that  "therefore  he  be  instructed  to  be 
in  attendance  at  the  church  on  the  Sabbath  durino- 
public  worship,  and  at  such  other  times  as  this  meet- 
ing-house is  open  for  public  worship;  and  that  the 
clerk  give  a  copy  of  this  to  the  Parish  committee. " 
The  records  of  the  parish  furthermore  defined  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  the  sexton  to  attend  all  meetings  or- 
dered by  the    parish    committee. 

The  list  of  tything-men  and  sextons  would  include 
the  names  of  some  of  the  most  useful  and  faithful 
servants  of  the  parish,  could  it  be  made  out;  but  it  is 
not  practicable  from  the  records.  The  present  sex- 
ton is  Mr.  Edgar  J.  Batchelder,  9  1-2  Atwood  street. 


REVOLUTIONARY    INCIDENTS. 

A  long  chapter  might  be  written  about  the  part 
played  by  our  fathers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution; 
but  a    few    facts   demand   special    mention.     It   is  a 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

matter  of  history  that,  at  ten  o'clock,  Monday    night, 
March  5th,  1770,  the   bells  of  Boston  rang  an  alarm, 
and  thousands  of  the  inhabitants  assembled,  the    oc- 
casion being  the   massacre    of    unarmed   citizens   by 
the    British  soldiery.       The    bells  of    Newburyport, 
our   own    among  the    number,    responded  by    tolling 
the   next    day.      Rev.  Jonathan    Parsons  states   that 
he    "had  been    repeatedly    urged    to    speak    in  pub- 
lic  on   a  day    set   apart  to  commemorate  the  bloody 
massacre,  the  barbarous  butchery  at  Boston,  but  had 
declined  to  do  so,"  until,  four  years  later  he  yielded, 
and  on  March  5,  1774,  he  preached   his    famous  ser- 
mon on  "Freedom  from  Civil  and  Ecclesiastical   Sla- 
very."      It  was  published  in  pamphlet  form,  and  was 
"dedicated  to  the  Honorable  John  Hancock,  Esq.,  of 
Boston."     A  few  sentences  will  give  an  idea  of  this 
impassioned  appeal  made  two  years  before  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence.     After  describing  with  in- 
dignation the  massacre  at  Boston,  he  said  concerning 
the  situation  of  the  colonies:   tkIf  one    man  may    de- 
fend himself  and  his  rights  against  an  assailant,  much 
more  may  a  whole  country  defend  themselves  when 
their  rio-hts  are  invaded.      If  old  friends  are  disposed 
to  be  terrible,  if  they  endeavor  to  enslave,  and  bring 
mischief  and  misery  upon  their  brethren — then  it  be- 
comes us  to  take  up  arms. — If  former  friends  are  now 

203 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

resolved  to  entangle  us  with  a  yoke  of  bondage,  God 
forbid  that  we  should  suffer  them  to  cut  off  our 
limbs  and  mangle  our  whole  body  to  gratify  their  in- 
jurious demands.  —  If  it  should  be  so  that  our  nat- 
ural and  constitutional  liberties  cannot  be  recovered 
and  maintained  without  repelling  force  by  force — it 
is  a  very  loud  call  from  God  to  defend  ourselves." 

Five  months  later,  at  a  town  meeting,  it  was  re- 
solved "That  this  town  will  stand  by  the  result  of 
Congress,  even  if  it  be  to  the  stopping  of  all  trade;" 
and  we  know  what  that  meant  in  one  of  the  most 
busy  marts  of  the  colonies,  as  Newburyport  then  was. 

The  battle  of  Lexington,  the  next  April,  was  the 
signal  of  war.  The  following  Sunday,  according  to  a 
well  authenticated  account,  the  voice  of  Parsons  rang 
forth  again  for  liberty.  He  was  then  seventy  years 
old,  but  he  seemed  to  drop  the  infirmities  of  age  and 
renew  the  fire  and  courage  of  youth.  At  his  appeal 
one  of  the  members  of  this  church,  Captain  Ezra 
Lunt,  stepped  forth  into  the  broad  aisle  and  a  com- 
pany of  sixty  men  was  formed  on  the  spot,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  the  first  company  of  volunteers  to 
join  the  continental  army.  In  the  diary  kept  by 
Lieut.  Paul  Lunt  is  the  modest,  but  significant,  en- 
try: ''May,  1775,  niarched  from  Newburyport  with 
sixtv   men;   Ezra    Lunt,   commander.      June    16,  our 

204 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

men  entrenched  on  a  hill  beyond  Bunker's  Hill. 
June  17,  the  Regulars  landed  troops  and  we  engaged 
them/'  In  keeping  with  this  patriotic  spirit  was  the 
town  vote  recorded,  May  31, 17 76,  thirty-four  days  be- 
fore the  Declaration  of  Independence,"  Voted, That  if 
the  honorable  Congress  should,  for  the  safety  of  the 
United  Colonies,  declare  them  independent  of  the 
kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  this  town  will,  with  their 
lives  and  fortunes,  support  them  in  the  measure. ', 

Parson  Murray  was  an  ardent  patriot,  as  has  already 
been  testified,  on  page  38  of  this  volume.  The  fol- 
lowing incident  will  show  his  zeal,  as  well  as  the 
power  of  his  eloquence.  It  is  narrated  in  Rev.  Mr. 
Miltimore's  eulogy  of  Murray.  Newburyport  was 
called  on  for  still  another  company  of  soldiers,  after 
having  already  furnished  many.  Day  after  day  the 
recruiting  officers  toiled  in  vain.  Finally  the  regi- 
ment was  invited  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  where 
Mr.  Murray  addressed  them  in  such  spirited  and  stir- 
ring words,  that  once  again,  as  formerly  in  a  similar 
case  in  the  days  of  Parsons,  a  member  of  this  church 
stepped  forth  to  take  the  command,  and,  in  two  hours 
after  the  benediction  had  been  spoken,  the  entire 
company  was  raised.  When  the  war  was  ended  Mr. 
Murray  preached  a  great  sermon,  Dec.  11,  1783,  en- 
titled, "Jerubbaal,  or    Tyranny's    Grove    Destroyed, 

205 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

and  the  Altar  of  Liberty  Finished/'     This  wonderful 
Thanksgiving  sermon  is  out  of  print,  but  by  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  A.  W.  Lord,  the  only  copy  perhaps  now 
in  existence  is  deposited  in  the  Pastoral  Library  of  our 
church.     The  men  of  our  parish  nobly  gave   them- 
selves and   their  means,  and  on  almost  every  battle- 
held  and  in  many  a  thrilling  naval   contest,  they  dis- 
played their  daring.     The  fact  should  never   be    for- 
gotten, that  during  the  Revolutionary  war  twenty-two 
vessels  and  one   thousand   men,   from    the    towns    of 
Newbury  and  Newburyport,  were  lost  at  sea;   and, 
according  to  a  loeal  historian,  the  first  American  flag 
which   floated  in  the  British  waters,  after  the  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities,   was  displayed  in  the  river  Thames, 
from    the    Compte  de  Grasse,    by    Captain  Nicholas 
Johnson,  of  Newburyport. 


PORTRAITS     OF    THE    PASTORS. 

On  the  walls  of  the  chapel  hang  portraits  of  all  the 
former  pastors,  and  each  picture  has  its  own  history. 
A  beginning  was  made,  Nov.  30,  1826,  of  which  the 
record  is  as  follows:  "The  portrait  of  the  late  Rev. 
John  Murray  presented  to  this  church  by  Samuel 
Swett,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  and  Simon  Greenleaf,  Esq., 
of   Portland;      it    having    been    much    defaced     and 

206 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

neglected,  the  above  gentlemen,  as  a  mark  of  respect 
paid  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Murray, 
once  their  minister  in  their  youth,  they  caused  it  to 
be  repaired,  and  generously  sent  it  as  a  present  to  this 
society,  wishing  that  it  might  be  placed  in  the  par- 
sonage-house where  it  was  formerly  placed.'"'  The 
next  year  it  was  voted  "that  the  portrait  of  Mr. 
Murray  be  placed  in  the  room  provided  for  the  meet- 
ing of  the  session  in  the  meeting-house/' 

In  April,  1855,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  look 
up  the  portraits  of  the  former  pastors;  consisting  ot 
Dr.  Vermilye,  Ezra  Lunt,  Moses  Pettingell  and  James 
Caldwell. 

In  May,  1874,  the  parish  appointed  Messrs.  Isaac 
H.  Boardman,  William  Graves  and  John  T.  Brown,  a 
special  committee  for  the  same  purpose.  A  full  ac- 
count of  their  efforts  was  published  at  the  time  in  the 
Newburyport  Herald.  The  portrait  of  Parsons  is  a 
fine  crayon  copy  of  an  original  Copley  painting,  and 
was  presented  by  Hon.  Henry  E.  Parsons  of  Ashta- 
bula, Ohio.  The  formal  presentation  to  the  society 
was  made  by  Jacob  Stone,  Esq.,  a  grandson  of  Mr. 
Parsons.  It  shows  the  first  pastor  in  his  wig,  gown 
and  bands,  according  to  the  fashion  of  those  days. 
The  oil  portrait  of  Dr.  Daniel  Dana  was  painted  in 
[883,  and  is  a  copy  of  the  original  owned  by  his  fam- 

207 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

ily.  It  is  the  gift  of  his  grandson,  Mr.  William  Dana 
Wheelwright  of  New  York.  The  likeness  of  Rev. 
S.  P.  Williams,  also  an  oil  portrait,  was  the  gift  of 
Mrs.  Charlotte  Cook  Knapp,  after  it  had  hung  for 
many  years  on  the  walls  of  his  former  home  on  the 
corner  of  Federal  and  Orange  streets.  The  pictures 
of  Pastors  Proudfit,  Stearns,  Vermilye  and  Richard- 
son, are  excellent  engravings;  while  those  of  Durfee, 
Newell,  Wallace  and  Sinclair  are  half  life-size  photo- 
graphs, being  the  gifts  of  their  friends.  There  are 
two  likenesses  of  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  one  being 
the  gift  of  Sir  Charles  Reed,  of  London,  England, 
together  with  a  letter  written  by  Whitefield  in  1766; 
and  the  other  being  more  recently  obtained  for  us  by 
Mr.  John  T.  Brown.  The  oil  painting  of  the  old 
meeting-house  was  executed  in  Antwerp  in  1857 
for  Captain  Charles  H.  Plumer,  a  parishioner,  and 
was  purchased  of  him  for  the  society  by  the  Ladies' 
and  Gentlemen's   Association. 


The  portraits  of  former  pastors  were  photographed 
for  use  in  this  volume  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W. 
Winder.  The  photograph  of  Dr.  Hovey,  (page  6), 
was  from  the  studio  of  W.  C.  Thompson.  The 
frontispiece,  representing  the  present  meeting-house, 
is  from  a  drawing   by  Miss  S.  M.  Morse.     Excellent 

208 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 


exterior  and  interior  views  have  been  taken  by  Hiram 
P.  Macintosh,  and  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winder.  To 
the  latter  we  are  indebted  for  the  tine  illustrations 
on  pages  99  and  196. 


HOMES    OF    THE    PASTORS. 

"  Old  homesteads,  sacred  to  all  that  can 
Gladden  or  sadden  the  heart  of  man — 
Over  whose  thresholds  of  oak  or  stone 
Life  and  Death  have  come  and  gone." 

We  are  indebted  to  the  excellent  memories  of 
Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Little,  now  ninety-three  years  of  age. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Gerrish,  in  her  ninetieth  year,  Mrs. 
Lydia  C.  Tucker,  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Hutchins,  Miss 
Alice  Plumer,  and  others,  for  interesting  reminis- 
cences concerning  the  homes  of  the  early  pastors. 
It  may  be  added  that  Mrs.  Tucker  is  the  daughter  of 
Dr.  Dana,  Miss  Gerrish  has  been  a  teacher  in  the 
Old  South  Sunday  school  for  sixty-three  years  in 
succession,  and  Mrs.  Hutchins  lives  opposite  the  old 
Parsons  residence.  These  ladies  are  active  in  keep- 
ing alive  the  female  prayer  meeting  that  has  been 
maintained  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  Shortly 
after  the  present  pastor  began  his  labors  here,  a  list 
was  made  of  all  men  and  women  in  the  congregation 
who  had  lived  for  seventy   years    or   longer,  and   we 

209 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

found  fifty  such  persons.  It  is  a  pleasant  tiling  to 
hear  these  devoted  and  elderly  people  talk  over  the 
social  and  domestic  incidents  of  former  days. 

The  dwellings  of  the  ministers  all  remain  to  this 
day,  though  some  of  them  have  undergone  changes. 
The  visitor  after  examining  the  meeting  house  and 
its  relics,  passes  along  on  School  street,  by  the  house 
where  the  famous  liberator,  William  Lloyd  Garrison, 
was  born,  and  then  by  a  large  old-fashioned  garden, 
now  neglected  and  overgrown  with  shrubbery,  but 
which  must  have  once  been  beautiful,  and  then  he 
comes  to  a  double  house,  numbered  7  and  9,  and  oc- 
cupied at  present  by  families  named  Ladd  and  Swett. 
And  that  was,  more  than  a  century  ago,  the  home  of 
the  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons.  The  west  corner  room, 
in  the  second  story,  is  where  George  Whitefield  died, 
and  it  is  said  to  remain  very  much  as  it  was  then. 
The  manse  was  the  gift  of  the  parish  to  Mr.  Parsons, 
together  with  the  garden,  and  remained  for  some 
time  in  the  possession  of  his  family  after  his  decease. 

In  1 78 1  the  parish  voted  £1000  to  build  a  parson- 
age for  Rev.  John  Murray,  and  in  1783  they  voted 
for  the  same  purpose  £450  more,  and  in  1788  still 
another  appropriation  of  £335,  making  a  total  of 
£1805,  which  enabled  them  to  erect  the  substantial 
building  at  74  Federal  street,  now  owned  and  occu- 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

pied  by  Mr.  Frank  McGrath.  The  work  was  all 
done  by  hand,  and  the  nails  were  imported,  and  the 
best  of  material  was  used  throughout.  The  hall, 
stairease  and  parlor  remain  unchanged,  and  give  a 
good  idea  of   the  old  colonial  style. 

The  parsonage,  after  the  Murray  place  was  sold, 
was  the  spacious  mansion  known  as  the  Captain 
Henry  Cook  house,  and  at  present  occupied  by  Mr. 
G.  H.  Pearson.  It  is  62  Federal  street;  and  as  we 
admire  its  ample  grounds  and  other  attractions,  we 
wonder  that  it  was  not  always  retained  as  a  parson- 
age. It  was  the  home  of  Dr.  Dana  while  he  was 
pastor  of  our  church,  though,  on  his  subsequent  return 
to  this  city,  he  lived  elsewhere.  When  Mr.  Williams 
succeeded  him,  as  one  of  the  many  proofs  he  gave  of 
a  singular  degree  of  independence,  he  refused  to  oc- 
cupy it  as  a  parsonage,  and  accordingly  purchased  it 
for  himself;  and  thus  the  propertv  passed  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  parish. 

When  Dr.  Proudlit  came,  he  rented  the  residence, 
number  6  Orange  street,  long  known  as  the  Harrod 
house,  and  now  occupied  by  Mr.  William  Holker; 
and  he  afterwards  occupied  the  Dalton  mansion  on 
State  street.  Dr.  Stearns  likewise  occupied  rented 
property;  first   living  at   10   Fruit  street,  the   present 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

home  of  Miss  Mary  C.  Burnham,  and  afterwards  at 
9  Fruit  street,  where  Dr. John  F.Young  now  resides. 

Dr.  Vermilye  lived  for  a  while  on  Water  street, 
near  Ship  street.  But  the  people  were  weary  of 
having  their  pastors  live  in  "'  hired  houses,"  and  the 
credit  mainly  belongs  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Greenleaf,  for 
starting  the  movement  to  buy  the  handsome  property 
at  98  High  street,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Charles  H. 
Coffin,  but  that  was  for  many  years  the  Old  South 
parsonage,  and  as  such  was  occupied  successively  by 
Drs.  Vermilye  and  Richardson  and  Rev.  Mr.  Durfee. 
The  first  sum  subscribed  for  it  was  by  the  Hon.  Caleb 
dishing,  who  also  drew  the  papers  so  as  to  make  the 
investment  permanent.  With  the  same  end  in  view 
the  Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Association  was  formed, 
rirst  to  pay  the  balance  for  the  parsonage  and  then  to 
keep  it  in  repair.  After  about  twent}'  years  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  sell  this  property,  and  the  pur- 
chase money  was  put  in  the  bank,  pending  the  result 
of  certain  necessary  inquiries  concerning  rights  and 
titles  conducted  by  Mr.  John  \V.  Winder,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Association.  Meanwhile  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Newell  lived  in  the  commodious  dwelling,  64  Lime 
street,  belonging  then,  as  now,  to  the  Simpson  family. 

When  Dr.  Wallace  was  settled  here,  in  1881,  the 
present  parsonage,  60  High  street,  on  the  corner  of 


HISTORICAL    AFTERMATH 

Lime  street  was  bought;  and  it  was  at  a  later  day  the 
home  also  of  his  successors,  Rev.  Mr.  Sinclair  and 
Dr.  Hove)'.  It  was  originally  built  by  Mrs.  Henry 
Titcomb,  and  by  inheritance  went  to  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Valeria  K.  Denny,  from  whom  it  was  bought 
for  the  Old  South  parish.  When  the  present  pastor 
took  up  his  residence  here,  in  May,  1893,  the  building 
was  put  in  thorough  repair,  painted,  papered  and  other- 
wise improved,  thus  making  it  a  very  desirable  home. 
The  history  of  these  various  homes  of  the  pastors 
would  fill  a  volume  by  itself;  the  births,  and  deaths, 
and  marriages;  the  social  gatherings,  and  session 
meetings;  the  discussions  of  theological  problems, 
and  of  church  affairs,  and  the  wrestling  in  prayer  for 
wisdom  in  their  solution;  the  individual  calls  for  pas- 
toral sympathy  and  counsel ;  the  countless  visitors 
who  have  crossed  the  threshold,  friend  and  stranger, 
rich  and  poor,  young  and  aged,  saint  and  sinner — 
these  details  of  the  minister's  home  life  form  a  large 
part  of  his  history,  but  they  can  never  be  fully  known 
except  to  Him  who  knows  all  hearts,  and  records 
faithfully  all  human  events;  and  who  gives  to  His 
children,  in  such  consecrated  dwellings,  bright  with 
the  sunshine  of  His  favor,  and  rich  in  the  best  and 
purest  human  affections,  an  earthly  type  of  their 
Everlasting  Home. 

2  13 


FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

By  request,  the  pastor  gave,  on  Sundays  following 
the  Anniversary,  specimens  of  the  style  of  the  early 
ministers.  The  first  selected  was  the  funeral  sermon 
by  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons  over  the  remains  of  Rev. 
George  Whitefield;  which  was  delivered  by  Dr. 
Hovey  from  the  original  manuscript,  kindly  loaned 
for  the  occasion  by  Captain  Moses  J.  Mulliken,  a 
descendant  of  Mr.  Parsons.  The  selection  from  the 
discourses  of  Rev.  John  Murray  was  one  introducing 
his  famous  analogy  between  "Ships  and  Souls,"  origi- 
nally given  a  century  ago  before  the  Newburyport 
Marine  Society,  whose  successors  attended  in  a  body; 
having  previously  decorated  the  pulpit  with  models 
and  paintings  of  vessels  built  in  Newburyport,  and 
with  other  emblems  and  relics  of  the  sea. 


Our  last  word,  as  a  fitting  close  for  this  volume 
that  deals  with  the  individual,  the  family,  the  school, 
the  parish,  the  church,  the  city,  the  state,  the  nation, 
and  ki  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,"  shall  be  that  loving 
motto  inscribed  over  the  central  door,  and  which 
greeted  the  guests  as  they  retired  from  the  sanctuary, 
while  the  organ  played  the  grand  "  March  de  Pro- 
cession1'— 

-Blest  be  tt)c  tic  that  binite." 


2  I  4 


INDEX. 


Beside  topical  references,  proper  names  are  given,  if  connected  with 
official  or  historical  incidents,  or  if  repeatedly  appearing;  otherwise  the 
reader  may  look  for  them  under  those  topical  heads  where  they  would 
most  likely  be  found. 


Abercrombie,  Rev.  Robert,  30. 
Abrahamic  covenant,  8. 
Adams,  Aaron  B.,  182,  1S3. 

Elizabeth  C,  soloist,   103,  104, 
106.  16S. 

Rev.  Joseph,  27,  118,  17S. 
Advent  Church,  157. 
Andover    Seminary.    39,    45,    150, 

154.  '57- 
Angier,  Rev.  Luther  II.,  105,  137, 

157.  l63 
Antrim,  in  Ireland,  37. 

in  New  Hampshire,  105,  161. 
Appleton,  Nathaniel,  165. 
Arrick,  Rev.  A.  J.,  157. 
Assembly,  General,  16,  19,  23,  31, 

39-  57.  7o. 
Westminster,  13,  14. 
Australia,  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.,  131. 

Bailey,  John  M.,  101,  1S0. 
Baldwin,  William  H.,  157. 
Banquet,  anniversary,  163 — 166. 
Baptists,  22,  ^^  34>  IOS- 
Baptist,  Church  in  Xewburyport, 

105,  165. 
Bartlet,  William,  36,  150. 
Bass,  Bishop  Edward,  24. 


Bath-Kol,  by  Murray.  40. 
Batchelder,  Edgar  J.,  163,  202. 
Bayley,  William  H.,  iS2. 
Beane,  Rev.  S.  C,  D.  D.,  104,  122. 
Beecher,  Rev.  Henry  Ward,  156. 
Bell,  the  Revere,   151,   172,    191  — 

195.  203. 
Belleville  Church,  7,  103. 
Bequests,  sundry,  169 — 173. 
Bible,  the  pulpit,  65,66,  148. 
Binley,  William,  100,  105,  137,  1S0. 

1S1. 
Bisbee,  Rev.  R.  E.,  157. 
Boardman,  Isaac  H.,  173,  1S2. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.,  173. 
Boothbay,   Maine,  Church  in,  37, 

38. 
Boston,  city  of,  16,  iS,  29,  34,  156, 
157,  184,  203. 
Presbytery   of,    iS,    30,  39,    64, 
123,  137,  1S6. 
Brown,   John  T.,  3,  5,  95,  96,  100, 
103,  104,    105,  106.   in,    115, 
117,  169—173,  180,  1S2,  208. 
John,  26,  2S,  179,  1S1,   183. 
Mrs.  Ellen  T.  (fund,)  173. 
Harold  L.,  116. 
Philip  S.,  (of  Kansas  city.)  141 . 


215 


INDEX. 


Bradford,  city  of,   153. 
Bridgeport,  city  of,  64,  157. 
Bunker  Hill,  205. 
Burroughs,  Pies.  G.  S.,  157. 
Byfield,  27. 


Caldwell,   James,    87,     180,    182, 

200,  207. 
Calvin,  Rev.  John,  11. 
Calvinism,  44,  45,  49,  71,  122. 
Campbell,  Rev.  Randolph,  77,  80, 

93- 
Cambridge  Platform,  19. 
Carter,  Delevan  Knight,  134,  160, 
Cenotaph,  the  Whitefield,  36,  101, 

i73- 
Chapel,  the  Old  South,  26,  55,  56, 

67,  1S6,  200. 
Chase,  William  E.,  100,    102,  103, 
104,  137,  201. 
Mrs.  Laura  T.,  102. 
Cheever,  Rev.  George  B.,  92. 
Churches,  (see  special  titles.) 
Church  and  State,  22. 
Clarke,  Bishop  Thomas  C,  146— 
14S. 
Rev.    George    H.,    D.    D.,    84, 

148—150. 
Thomas  M.,  1S0,  200. 
Cleland,  Mrs.  P.  S.,  154,  155- 
Clerks,  church,  list  of,  181. 

Parish,  list  of,  182. 
Clock,  tower,  117,  169—173,   191— 

195- 
Cochrane,    Rev.    W.    R.,    D.    D., 

105,  134.  i57'  161,  162. 
Coffin,  Joshua,  8,  25. 
College,  Amherst,  56 

Dartmouth,  47,  184. 

Harvard,  23,  27,  45. 

Rutgers,  62. 


College,  Wabash,  9,  64,  157. 
Williams,  59. 
Yale,  48. 
Collectors,  parish,  list  of,   1S3. 
Committee,   General,  on  anniver- 
sary, 3,  4,  103,  105,  164,    165, 
169. 
on  incorporation,  175 — 177. 
on  publication,  5,  174,  176. 
Special,  3.  4,  163,  164,  192,  207. 
of  the  parish,  4,   169—173,   190, 
202. 
Committee-men,  list   of  the,  1S1, 

182. 
Confession  of  faith,  12,  13,  15,  31. 
Congregationalists,  the,  16,  19, 

33,  109,  165,  201. 
Connecticut,  19,  39,  48 
Controversy,  43,  44,  58,  S9,  122, 

123,  144,  156,  1S6,  199. 
Communion  plate,  185,  186. 
Craighead,  Rev.  Alexander,  145. 
Cross,  Ralph,  28,  32,  65,  179,  185. 
Crypt,    the    Old  South,    149,    151, 

188— 191. 
Curfew,  ringing  the,  173,  192. 
Curtis,  Mayor  A.  R.,  156. 
Cushing,  Caleb,  8,6S,S7,  114,  150, 
212. 

Dana,  Rev.  Daniel,  D.  D.,  10,  42— 

47-   54-    75-  77.  89.  "3-  US- 
119,    124,  126,  146,  177,  179, 
207,  211. 
descendents  of,  157,  209. 

Davenport,  Rev.  H.  A.,  157. 

Davol,  May,  103. 

Day,  Lucius  L..  158. 

Deacons,  4,  52,  85,  147,   151,  177. 
1S0,  1S1,  195. 

Decorations,    of     the      meeting- 
house, 100,  101,  117. 

Denton,  Rev.  Richard,  15,  13S. 

Dexter,  Rev.  Henry  M.,  D.  D.,  19, 
Lord  Timothy,  192. 


2l6 


INDEX. 


Dimmick,  Rev.  Luther  F.,  80,  82 
Discipline,  methods  of,  200. 
Dodge,  Rev.  John  W.,  106. 
Donnell,  Charles  C,  163,  183. 

George,  87,  180,  200. 
Duffield,  Rev.  Howard,  D.  D.,  of 

New  York,  140. 
Durfee,  Rev.  Charles    S. ,  59,  60, 

113,  115,  119. 
Mrs.  Charles  S.,  157. 


Eagle    Wing,     the     Presbyterian 

ship,  14. 
Edwards,    Rev.  Jonathan,  25,  30, 

144. 
Elders,  ruling,  4,  18,20,30,31,52, 

85,  177,  179,  1S0. 
Ellinwood,  Rev.  Henry  F.,  15S. 
Emerson,  Rev.  John  E.,  56. 
Emery,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.,  (fund)  173. 
England.  Church  of,  13. 
Episcopalians,  12,  24,  ^,  34,  62, 

109. 


Fanueil,  Peter,  34. 
Federal  Street,  26,  143,  151. 
Female  charitable  society   47. 

prayer-meeting,  209. 
Fencing  the  table,  42. 
Fiske,  Rev.  Daniel    T.,  D.  D.,  9, 

75,  103,  106,  107,  164. 
Flanders,  Mrs.  Isadore    organist, 

103,  168. 
Foss,  Dr.  David,  4,  164,  1S2. 

Mrs.  Ada  B    S.,  104. 
Foot-stoves,  54,  196. 
Founders,  list  of  the,  183,  1S4. 
French,  the,  11,  34. 

Rev.  S.  F.,  104,  123,  124. 
Frescoing,  195. 
Frost,  Elizabeth  C,  118. 


Funerals,  36,  185,  196,   199. 
Furnaces,  55,  189. 

Garrison,     William     Lloyd,     114, 

209. 
Georgia,  state  of,   145. 
Gerrish,  Elizabeth,  209. 
Goodwin,  Major,  84,  183. 
Gould,  Hannah  F.,  150. 
Great  Awakening,  24. 
Greely,  John  A.,  1S2. 

Lucius  H.,  101. 
Greenleaf,  Ada  M.,  201. 

Mary  C.Si,  151,  200,  211. 

Circle,  67. 
Greetings     from     churches     and 

friends,  150 — 162. 
Guelpa,  Philip,  frescoer,  195. 

Hale,  Dr.  Frank  A.,  56,  61,  201. 

Hancock,  John,  203. 

Harrod,  Phoebe,  46,  66,   86,    173, 

192,  200. 
Haskell,  Rev.  E.  C,  157. 

George  W.,  183,  201. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kimball,  3,  104, 

134- 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  19,60,  90, 

150. 
Hart,  Mrs.  Eliza  A.,  (fund),  173. 
Hector,  landing  of  the,  33. 
Hempstead,  Christ  Church  of,  15, 

106,  13S,   139. 
Henry,  Patrick,  17. 
Hitchcock,  Rev.  A.  W.,   104. 
Historical  Aftermath,  174 — 214. 

Society,  of  Boston,  158. 

Society,    of    Newbury,  9,    142, 

165- 
Home  department,  201. 
Homes  ofthe  pastors,  198,  209 — 213. 


217 


INDEX. 


Hopkins,  Louisa  Parsons,  112,  115, 

HOPKINSIANISM,  45,  89. 

Hovey,  Daniel,  of  Ipswich,  9. 

Professor  Edmund  Otis,  D.  D. 

9>  J54-  157.  158. 
Mrs.  Helen  L.,  201. 
Rev.  Horace  C,  D.  D.,  3,  64, 
79,  100,    103,    104,    115,    117, 
179,  212,  ctjwssim. 
Others  of  the  family  name,  155, 
15S. 
Howard,  Francis  A.,  3. 

Rev.  Roger  A.,  182,  201. 
Huguenots,  the,  11,  34,  70. 
Huntington,  Lady,  41. 

Incorporation,    acts  of,  34,    17s — 

17S. 
Independence,  Declaration  of,  17, 

36,  139,  145,  203,  205. 
Indiana,  State  of,  9,  156,  15S. 
Invitation,  100. 
Iowa,  State  of,  157,  158. 
Ireland,  13,  37. 
Isles  of  Shoals,  82. 

Jacoby,  Charles  YV\,  165. 
Jaques,  Edmund,  4,  1S0,  1S1,  201. 

George  H.,  4,  201. 
Johnson,  Isaac,  179,  1S8,  195. 

Mrs.  Ella  M.  W.,  102. 

Ella  M.,  organist,  105. 

William  H.,  189. 
Jones,  Alice  G.,  201. 

Captain  Oliver  O.,  4,   180.  182. 
Joppa,  in  Newburyport,  7,  25. 

Kansas,  State  of,  155. 

City,  Mo.,  141. 
Kerr,  Rev.  F.  M.,   139. 

Rev.  J.  D.,  140. 
Kentucky,  State  of,  157. 


Kingsbury,  Rev.  J.  D.,  D.  D.,  153. 
Knox,  Rev.  John,  12,  19,  22. 


Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Associa- 
tion, 68,  208,  212. 
Leavitt,  Alvah  W.,    4,   100,    1S0, 

1S1,  1S2. 
Lexington,  145,  204, 
Little,  the  family  line,  155. 
Enoch,  conversion  of,  1515. 
Eliza  A.,  oldest  member  of  our 

church,  209. 
Rev.  Henry,  D.   D.,  of  Texas, 

155- 156. 
William,  of  Newbury,  165. 
Londonderry,  in  Ireland,  14. 

In  New  Hampshire,  16,   29,  39, 
42,  47-  53-  104,   123. 
Lord,  Alfred  W..  196,  206. 
Philip,  194. 

Rev.  Charles  E.,  D.  D.,   105. 
Lowell,  Rev.  John,  25,  26. 
Lunt,  Ezra,  85,  180,  182,   204,  205, 
207. 
George,  S,  150. 
Mary  P.,  pianist,  201. 
Paul,  205. 
Philip  H.,  61. 
Luther,  Martin,  11,  144. 


Marine  Society,  of  Newburyport, 
214. 

Mather,  Rev.  Increase,  23. 

Mec  klenberg  Declaration,  145. 

Meeting-house,  the  Old  South, 
26,  50,  51,  52,  58,  81,  87,  100, 
117,  146,  147,  149,  169—173, 
175,  187,  1S8,  193,  202,  207. 

Membership,  of  the  church,  65, 
66,  67,  81,  87,  93,  200. 


2  I 


INDEX. 


Memorial  Tablet,  for  the  pastors, 

102,  104,  11 1 — 120. 
Merrimac  Bible  Society,  47. 

Humane  Society,  47. 
Methodists,   the,  24,  34,   76,   109, 

156-  157- 

Mills,  Rev.  Charles  P.,  105,  130, 
131,  165. 

Miltimore,  Rev.  James,  of  Belle- 
ville, 205. 

Milton,  Rev.  Charles  W.,  41.  42. 

Mitchell,  Rev.  James,  Ph.  D.,  157. 

Ministers,  list  of,  178,  179. 

Missionaries,   46,   47,  67,  82,  90, 

150,  154,  1S4. 

Money,  150,  154,  184,  185,  198,  210. 
Monumental  temple,  50. 
Moody,  John,  1S2,  18S. 

Joseph,  151,  1S0,  181,  183,  186. 
Morehead,  Rev.  John,  of  Boston, 

29,  38,  51. 
Murray,  Rev.  John,  36,  37 — 42,  88, 

89,  113,  115,119.  *57i  !79.  184. 

198,  199,  205,  208,  209,  210. 
Music,  sacred,  52,  53,  54,  147,  149, 

151,  168,  195 — 197,  202. 
Maofaddin,    Rev.    T.    James,    of 

Second  ».Jres.  Church,  105, 
125,  126,  127. 

MacDonald,  Rev.  Peter  M.,  Ph. 
D.,  of  Boston,  105,  137,  163. 

McCorkle,  Rev.  William  A.,  D. 
D.,  of  Detroit,  156. 

McGregor,  Rev.  James  of  Lon- 
donderry, 16,  29,  30. 

McIntosh,  Hiram  P.,  171,  209. 

McKemie,  Rev.  Francis,  15. 

Xegro  pews,  so  called,  190. 
New  Side  and  Old  Side,  144. 
Newbury,  town  of,  iS,  20,  24,  26, 
33,  122,  144,  166,  167. 


Newbury,  West,  7.  24. 

First  Church  and  Parish  of,  26, 
28,  31,  43,  65,   104,   121,   122, 
166,  167. 
Third   Church    and    Parish   of, 
25,   26,  30,  31,  65,    122,    133, 
(see   First  Religious  Society 
of  Newburyport.) 
Newburyport,  city    of,    7,    24,  34, 
68,  79,  in,  169 — 173. 
Herald,  165,  172,  207. 
News,  (imprint.) 
Presbytery  of,  9,  39,  1S6. 
churches  and  societies  of,  (see 
special  titles.) 
Newell,  Rev.  William  W.,  Jr.,  60, 
61,  62,  113,  115,  119, 132,  179, 
208,  212. 
New  Hampshire,  state  of,   16,   17, 
39.     (see  Londonderry,  etc.) 
New  York,  46,  62,   139,    140,   15S. 

(see  Presbytery,  etc.) 
North  Congregational  Church,  of 

Newburyport,  46,  130,  165. 
Northampton,  Mass.,  23. 
North    Carolina,    State   of,    144, 

H5- 
Noyes,  Dr.  George   E.  L.,   singer, 

103. 
James,    teacher,     of  Newbury, 

20,  21,  33. 
Joseph  H.,  171,  1S1,  201. 


Oak  Hill  cemetery,  47,  57,  59. 

Official  record,  17S — 184.  200,  201. 

Old  School  and  New  School,  (see 
Controversies.) 

Old  South  Church,  (see  Presbyte- 
rian, First  Church.) 

Organ,  of  the  Old  South  Church, 
196,   197. 


219 


INDEX. 


Origin    of  the    First  Presbyterian 
church,  3,  25, 26,    27,  30,  144. 

Palls,  for  funerals,  185. 
Park,  Professor  Edwards  A.,  157. 
Parker,   Rev.     Thomas,   of  New- 
bury, 20,  21,  3^. 
Parish,     First    Presbyterian,    etc. 

(see  Society.) 
Parsons,  Rev.   Jonathan,    27 — 36, 
38,   in,    113,    ii5-    "7>    IIQ> 
144,   178,   186,  187,    188,    189, 
19S,  203,  207,  210. 
Descendants  of,  111,  157,  207. 
Captain  Jonathan,  (elder,)  180. 
John  D.,  1S0,  182,  201. 
Pastoral  library,  5.  46,  197.  206. 
Patton,  Rev.  Myron  O.,    105,  127, 

128,  129. 
Pelham,  Mass.,  church  of,  30. 
Pettingell,    Moses,  65,   S6,    1S0, 

197,  207. 
Petition  to  the  King,  31,  32,  33. 
Pearson,  Jeremiah,    179,  181,    195, 
196. 
Mrs.  Lucy,  77,  7S. 
Pilgrim  fathers,  22. 
Pilochie  pilgrims,  15. 
Pittsburgh,  first    Sabbath    school 

in,  46. 
Philip,  Robert,  (author),  189. 
Philadelphia,  16,  37,  46,  77. 
Pike,  Rev.  John,  D.  D.,    150,  152. 
Plant,  Rev.  Matthias.  24. 
Plumer,  Albert,  117,  169 — 173. 
Charles  H.,  208. 
Nathan,  180,  194. 
Alice,  209. 
The    Misses    Jane,    Maria    and 

Mehitable,  170. 
Dr.  Daniel  T.,  and  family,  170, 
172. 


Poetry,     134,    135,    136,    159 — 162, 
199. 

Polity,  ecclesiastical,  19,  109,  no, 
123,  138,  156,  1S6,  187. 

Pope,  Rev.  Louis  A  ,  105,   165. 

Porter,  Professor  Ebenezer,  36. 
Winfield  P.,  105,  132,  133. 

Portraits,    of  pastors,    101,    206, 
207,  208. 

Preliminaries    for    the    anniver- 
sary, 3,  4,  98,  99. 

Presbytery,  power  of  the,  19,  20, 

21,   lS6,   187. 
"In  a  church,"  20. 
Boston,    18,    30,     39,     64,    123, 

137.  186. 
Concord,  143. 

the  Eastward,  39.  40,  41,  1S6. 
Grafton,  39. 

Londonderry,  ('Irish,)  28. 
Londonderry,    28,    30,    39,    42, 

1S6. 
Newburyport,  9.  39,  1S6. 
Palmer,     the     "Western,"    39, 

1S6. 
Philadelphia,  the  "mother  pres- 
bytery," 16. 
Salem,  the    "Eastern,"  39,    47, 

186. 
Presbyterianism,    American,    19, 

20,  21,  70. 
Knox's  plan  of,  19,  20. 
Congregationalized.  19. 
Presbyterian  church,  Bridgeport, 

First,  157. 
Kansas  city,  First,  140. 
Newburyport,  First,  3,  23,   34, 

43'  °9-  7°'  et  passim. 
Newburyport,  Second,   42,    43- 

47,  105.  125,  127,  192,  196. 
Londonderry,  47,  53,  104,  123. 
New  York,  First,  139,    140. 
New  York,    Fourth,    140. 


2  20 


INDEX. 


Presbyterian  parish,  first  of 
Newburvport,  34,  51, 169,  175, 
176. 

Prince,  Rev.  Joseph,  the  blind 
preacher,  36,  124,  188, 189. 

Princeton  Seminary,  56,  63. 

Pritchard,  Charles    M.,  164,    171, 
1S0,   183,  201. 
Edward  D.,  134,  159,  201. 
Captain  William,  87,    95,    1S0, 
1S2,  183,  201. 

Program,  for  the  anniversary,  102, 
103,  104.  105. 

Proprietors,  of  the  meeting- 
house, 51,  175. 

Prospect  Street  Church,  Con- 
gregational, 42,  43,  77. 

Proudfit,  Rev.  John,  50,  51,  75, 
91,  113,  115,119,  14S, 149,  151, 
179,  208,  211. 

Psalms  of  David,  53. 

Pulpit  of  the  Old  South  meeting- 
house, 101,  148,  195,  196. 

Puritans,  the,  12,  13,  60,  65,  85. 
13S. 

Quakers  or  "'Friends,"  29,  33,  34. 
Queen  Anne,   "Act   of  Security", 

13- 
Queen  Anne  chapel,    in    Nevvbury- 
port,  24. 


Reade,  Sir  Charles,  20S. 
Rebellion,  war  of  the,  114,  11S. 
Reed,  Prentiss  II.,  3.  100,  165,  1S3. 

Tula  M.,  165. 
Reid,  Rev.  John  H.,  105,  129,  130. 
Reserved  rights,  30,   122. 
Revere,  Paul,  101,  192. 

The    bell,    151,    172,    191 — 195, 
203. 


Revolutionary   war,    17,   38,    40, 

44,  113,  191,  198,  202 — 206. 
Richardson,     Rev.     Richard     H., 
56,  59,  94,  113,  115,   119,  179, 
208,  212. 

Mrs.  Octavia  W.,   157. 

Rev.  William  C,  103. 
Rocky  Hill,  meeting  house,  125. 
Rodgers,  Rev.  John.  140. 
Rolfe,  Ebenezer,  4,  180,  201. 
Roman  Catholics,  12,  34,  55,  11S. 

church  in  Newburyport,  55. 
Rouse's  version  of  the  Psalms,  53. 
Rowley,  Dr.  Pike  of,  151. 
Roxbury,  first  Sabbath  School   in, 

45- 
Rundlette,  Mrs.  Emily  M.,  102. 


Sabbath  Schools,  45,  46,  56,   150, 

200,  201,  209. 
Salaries  of  early  Pastors,  198. 
Salem,  city  of,  18,  39,  47,  186.   (see 

Presbytery.) 
Sanborn,  Rev.  F.  W.,  of  Newbury, 

121,  122. 
Sargent,  Moses  H.,  201. 

Rufus,  194. 
Saybrook  Platform,  19,  2S. 
Scotch    Presbyterians.   12,    13,    20, 

22,  53,  70,  11S,  124. 
Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  13,  14, 

15,  16,  17,  18,  22,  2S,  39,  53, 

70,  118,  124. 
Sea  captains  and  sailors,  59,  68,  79, 

S7,  126,  150,  206,  214. 
Seal,    of    the     First    Presbyterian 

Church,  next  title  page, 
authority  for  making  and  using, 

177. 
Session  of  the  Church,  4,  iS,   19, 

20,  21,  30,  53,  164,  177,   190, 

200,  207. 


INDEX. 


Sexton,  of  the  parish,  55,  149,  163, 

iSS,  202. 
Shaw,  Rev.  Samuel,  103. 
Silloway,  Thomas  W.,  architect, 

194. 
Simpson,    Captain    Paul,   87,    180, 

182,  183. 
Sinclair,  Rev.  Brevard  D.,  63,  113, 

115,   142,   143—146,   179,  208, 

212. 
Smith,  Charles  T.,  4,  171,  [72,  182. 

Ebenezer,  4,  180    182. 
Society,  First  Presbyterian,  New- 

buryport,34,5i,  169,  175,  176, 

et  passim . 

First   Religious,  Newburvport, 

26,  43,  46,  49,   104,   122,   123, 

141. 

Fourth     Religious,     Newbury- 

port,  42,  43,  77,  127,  I2S,  129. 

Female  Charitable,  47. 

Historical,  of  Newbury,  9,  142, 

165. 
Marine,  of  Newburvport,  214. 
Merrimac  Bible,  47. 
Merrimac  Humane,  47. 
Sabbath     School     and     Tract, 

Newburvport,  46,  200. 
Young  People's  Christian   En- 
deavor, 67,  101,  105,  130,  131. 
Spring,    Rev.  Samuel.   85,  89,   90, 

199. 
Sproat,  Rev.  James,  1S7,  iSS. 
Stearns,  Rev.  Jonathan  F.,  D.  D., 
10,  56.  57-  75-  76,  77-  93'  10S, 
113,    115,  119.  152,   179,  1S6, 
189,  190,  20S,  112. 
Sargent  P.,  152  153. 
Stone,  George  F.,  104,  iti,  157. 
Stoves,    introduction  of,    55,    149, 

196. 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  New- 
burvport, 24,  103,  147. 


Superintendents,      of     Sabbath 

School,  200,  201. 
Synod,    the   power  of,   19,  23,   38, 
62. 
of  Albany,  1S7. 
of  New  England,  38,  39,  186. 
of  New  York,  21,  62. 


Taxation,  resisted,  31,  32,  34,  44. 
Tennants,   William    and    Gilbert, 

25-37- 
Texas,  state  of,    155. 
Thanksgiving  Day,  41,  49,  80  206. 
Theological  Seminary,  Andover, 
39,  45,  150,  154,   157. 
Bangor,    108. 
Lane,  64,   154. 
Union,  62. 
Third    Church    of  Newbury,    (see 

Newbury.) 
Thurston,  Rev.  John  R.,  104,  106, 

167. 
Tilton,  Dudley  D.,  1S0,  201. 
Titcomb,     Enoch,    154,     179,    1S1, 

1S3. 
Treasurers'  accounts,   184,  185. 
of  the  church,  181. 
of  the  parish,  183. 
Tucker,  Mrs.  Lydia  B.,  157,  209. 
Tuttle,    President  Joseph  F.,    D. 

D.,  157. 
Tything  men,  202. 


Unitarians,  16,  25,  26,  34,   43,  4S, 

49,  104.  122,  134,  141. 
University  of  New  York,  62. 
Utah,  state  of,  154. 


Vane  of  the   Old    South    meetint 
house,  191,  193,  194. 


222 


INDEX, 


Vermilye,  Rev.  Ashbel  G.,  D.  D., 
3>  56,  75 — 97»  104—106.  113, 
115,  1 1.9,  166.167,  179,  207, 
208,  212. 

Wallace,  Rev.  Charles  C.,  1).  1).. 

9,  62,  63,    113,  115,    119,    179, 

20S,  212. 
Mrs.  Mary  S  .  1  ^7. 
Waldexses,    II. 
Ward,  Rev.  John   W.    of  People's 

M.  E.  Church,  156. 
Watts,  Isaac.  104,  199. 
Watts  and    select   hymn-book,   53, 

199. 
Weathercock,  191,  193,  194. 
Wesley,  Rev.  John,   109. 
West  Newbury,  7,  24. 
Westminster  Assembly,  14.  19 
Confessions    and      catechisms. 

J3-  15.  3i- 

Wheelwright,      Abraham.      149, 
180, 200. 
Mrs.,  1 86. 
W.  1).,  20S. 

Whispering  gallery,  87,  11S. 

Whitefield,  Rev.  George,  Bible 
of,  65;  coming  of,  23,  24: 
founder  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church,  34,  109,  131, 
144  ;  preaching  of,  21,,  24,  p^- 
77-  78,  79-  1 12,  140,  143,  144, 
155,  162,  173;  in  North  Car- 
olina, 143;  death  of,  35,  36, 
20S;  remains  of  in  the  crypt, 
36,    76.  90,  126,  143,  iSS,  191  ; 


Will  te  FIELD—  Con  tinned. 

cenotaph    of,     36,     37,      101  ; 

monumental  temple    for,  50; 

portrait  of,  1 19,  20S. 
Circle,     in     First    Presbyterian 

Church,    67. 
Congregational      Church        in 

New  buiyport.    56,    105,     129. 

130. 

Whittier, John  G..  165 
Williams.  Rev.  Samuel  P.,  9.   10. 

25.  34-  48— 50.  75-  77.  82,  91, 

113-   "5.    i'9-   M7-   '48,   157, 

179,  208,  211. 
Roger,  22. 
Winder,  John  W.,4,5,99,  ,01.  171, 

176,  182,  196.  20S,  212. 
Mrs.  Clarissa    J.   G.,    99,    101, 

102,  196,  20S,  212. 
Wishard,     Rev.     Samuel.    D.    D  , 

154.  155- 
Withington,  Rev.  Leonard,  9.  4^, 

50,  77,  So,  Si,  147. 
Witherspoon,  Rev.  John,  17. 
Wolfe  Tavern,  163.  164. 
Woods,  James  M.,  4,  180,  1S2. 
Worcester,  city  of,  16. 

Rev.  Samuel,  D.  D.,  53. 
Wyatt,  Benjamin,  1S0,  1S2,  192. 


Young  People's  Society  of  Chris- 
tian   Fndeavor,  67,    101,    10$, 
130,  131. 
Men's     Christian     Association, 
61,  105,  132,  133. 


223 


